The Chicago Business Barometer climbed to 54 in January 2026, up from 42.7 in the prior month and well above market estimates of 44. This marked a solid return to growth in Chicago's economic activity after 25 consecutive months of decline. Employment rose 17.5 points to its highest level since December 2024, while new orders surged 15.8 points to levels not seen since March 2022. Production, backlogs, and inventories rose, while supplier deliveries slowed and prices paid fell nine points to a one-year low. source: Institute for Supply Management

Chicago PMI in the United States increased to 54 points in January from 42.70 points in December of 2025. Chicago PMI in the United States averaged 54.26 points from 1967 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 81.00 points in November of 1973 and a record low of 20.70 points in June of 1980. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Chicago PMI - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Chicago PMI in the United States increased to 54 points in January from 42.70 points in December of 2025. Chicago PMI in the United States is expected to be 44.00 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Chicago PMI is projected to trend around 51.00 points in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
ISM Manufacturing PMI 52.60 47.90 points Jan 2026
ISM Manufacturing Employment 48.10 44.80 points Jan 2026
ISM Manufacturing New Orders 57.10 47.40 points Jan 2026
ISM Manufacturing Prices 59.00 58.50 points Jan 2026
ISM Services Business Activity 57.40 55.20 points Jan 2026
ISM Services Employment 50.30 51.70 points Jan 2026
ISM Services New Orders 53.10 56.50 points Jan 2026
ISM Services Prices 66.60 65.10 points Jan 2026


United States Chicago PMI
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.

News Stream
Chicago PMI Signals First Expansion in 2 Years
The Chicago Business Barometer climbed to 54 in January 2026, up from 42.7 in the prior month and well above market estimates of 44. This marked a solid return to growth in Chicago's economic activity after 25 consecutive months of decline. Employment rose 17.5 points to its highest level since December 2024, while new orders surged 15.8 points to levels not seen since March 2022. Production, backlogs, and inventories rose, while supplier deliveries slowed and prices paid fell nine points to a one-year low.
2026-01-30
Chicago PMI Unexpectedly Improves
The Chicago Business Barometer rose to 43.5 in December 2025 from 36.3 in the prior month and above market estimates of 39.5. This was the 25th consecutive month with readings below the neutral 50 threshold, signaling a solid contraction in Chicago’s economic activity and the sharpest since May 2024.
2025-12-30
Chicago PMI Unexpectedly Deteriorates
The Chicago Business Barometer fell to 36.3 in November 2025 from 43.8 in the prior month and against market estimates of 44.3. This was the 24th consecutive month with readings below the neutral 50 threshold, signaling a solid contraction in Chicago’s economic activity and the sharpest since May 2024. The sub-indexes of new orders, production and employment all declined. Meanwhile, supplier deliveries went up.
2025-11-26