United States Chicago PMI

Last Release

Feb 28, 2025

Actual

45.5

Units In

Points

39.5

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

Mar 31, 2025

Time to Release

29 Days 16 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
81 Nov 1973	20.7 Jun 1980	54.43 Points	1967-2025	Institute for Supply Management

The Chicago PMI (ISM-Chicago Business Barometer) measures the performance of the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sector in the Chicago region. The Index is computed from five weighted raw indexes: Production (0.25), New Orders (0.35), Order Backlog (0.15), Employment (0.10), and Supplier Deliveries (0.15) and then seasonally adjusted to support month-to-month comparisons. A reading above 50 indicates an expansion; below 50 represents a contraction; while 50 indicates no change. Chicago PMI is released one day before the ISM Manufacturing Index.

Latest Updates

The Chicago Business Barometer, or Chicago PMI, surged 6.0 points to 45.5 in February 2025, up from 39.5 in January and exceeding market expectations of 40.6. While the index marked its 15th consecutive month of contraction, the decline was the mildest since September 2024. Gains in four of five key subcomponents drove the improvement: Production (+7.6 points, highest since June 2024), New Orders (+5.0 points, highest since November 2023), Supplier Deliveries (+9.5 points), and Order Backlogs (+5.2 points). However, Employment dropped 1.5 points to its lowest level since June 2020, with nearly 40% of respondents reporting workforce reductions, the highest share since mid-2009. Meanwhile, the Prices Paid sub-index soared 16.9 points, the steepest monthly increase since July 1957, reaching its highest level since August 2022.