Chicago Business Barometer™ & Research

Chicago Business Barometer^™ & Research

Monthly Survey - Chicago Business Barometer^™

The ISM Chicago Business Survey, is a regional view of the national economy; is a time-tested, market-moving report. The Chicago Report^™ is available to subscribers on the last working day each month. The Chicago Business Barometer^™ summarizes current Business Activity. The Barometer is considered to be a leading indicator of the U.S.A. economy.

For more than seven decades, the Chicago Business Barometer^™ has been providing leading insight on the U.S. economy. The Chicago Business Barometer^™ is delivered to subscribers via the MNI Chicago Report^™, a monthly report published by MNI Indicators that presents valuable information on the U.S. economic activity and a fresh look at current U.S. business conditions. The report consists of seven Business Activity indicators and three Buying Policy indicators that represent activity and preformance levels compared to the prior month.

Purchasing and Supply Management professionals in the Chicago area, primarily members of ISM Chicago, are polled to assess business conditions for their respective companies every month.

For more information about the Chicago Business Barometer^™ and MNI Indicators products, please contact martindanielb@yahoo.com.

Periodically, ISM Chicago may invite our members and community to participate in additional research.

December - Chicago Business Barometer^™

The Chicago Business Barometer rebounded 7.2 points to 43.5 in December. The index has mostly unwound November’s decline but has remained below 50 for twenty-five consecutive months.

The rise was driven by increases in New Orders, Production and Order Backlogs. Declines in Supplier Deliveries and Employment provided a small offset.

In December, the Chicago Report™ also asked firms “Is AI helping your procurement/supply operations?” See report for full details.

Released December 30, 2025.

Read the Press Release

Why the best leaders help their teams to "savor" the world

Leadership

A Gallup report states that "The world is on an emotional edge," with some 39% reporting that they spend many days filled with worry. This is why leadership coach Lisa Bennett recommends that leaders begin a practice of savoring the positive things in life and passing that sense of wonder on to their teams in small gestures. Some leaders make it a point to tell team members what they genuinely appreciate about them, while others find positive ways to personally connect with their teams, in an effort to build emotional bandwidth into their culture, Bennett writes.

Full Story: Big Think (12/23)

Friend or Foe? Artificial intelligence (AI) and negotiation

A New Kind of Negotiation Partner: AI at the Table

For years, procurement professionals have focused on one core challenge: how to negotiate deals that create more value for both sides. Now, that landscape is shifting fast — thanks to artificial intelligence.

Recent research explored one of the first real-world tests of how generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, influence negotiation strategies and results. The findings were eye-opening — not only in the outcomes achieved, but also in how negotiators approached discussions, shared information, and built value.

The studies, detailed in Friend or Foe? Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Negotiation, show that AI isn’t just another tool — it’s a new type of negotiation partner that’s reshaping how buyers and suppliers engage.

For procurement leaders, the takeaway is clear: as AI enters the negotiation process, understanding how to leverage it effectively — or negotiate against it — will be a critical skill in the next evolution of strategic sourcing and supplier management.

Full Story: AALBORG University, Published in International Journal of Commerce and Contracting (10/2025)

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