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.

May - Chicago Business Barometer^™

The Chicago Business Barometer^™ slowed 4.1 points to 40.5 in May. This was the second consecutive fall, bring the index to the its lowest level since January. The index has now been below 50 for eigthteen consecutive months.

The decrease was driven by a fall in New Orders, Order Backlogs and Production. Supplier Deliveries and Employment rose relative to April.

May special question asked: "In light of extra economic uncertainty, are you considering further delaying Capital Investments?. Majority 48% answered "No change in capital investment plans". 24% responded "Extended delay until business conditions return", with 17% of respondents reporting "Temporary delay during tariff/economic negotiations". Balance 10% "Unknown".

Released May 30, 2025.

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Managing a Polarized Workforce Without Abandoning Your Principles

Keep teams focused on the business to avoid division

To keep division from tearing your teams apart, create a respectful, work-focused culture by aligning them around shared objectives and modeling the calm and inclusive behavior you want, writes executive coach Dana Theus. "When you must take a stance, root it in these shared organizational and leadership values, not solely in personal idealogy. This builds trust based on your leadership actions, not agreement with your private beliefs," Theus advises.

Full Story: Inpower Coaching (05/08)

Strategies for Supply Chain Resiliency amidst Tariff Uncertainty

Play the interview or read the script.

Discover strategies and insights into navigating tariff uncertainty and how to strenghten supply chains amidst ever-changing policies in a conversation with Arena partner, Instrumental.

Full Story: Arena Solutions (June/25)

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