CHICAGO, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The Chicago Business Barometer rose in September, climbing for the third consecutive month, the Institute for Supply Management said Monday.
Three months of gains is the longest upward streak in more than three years, said the Institute for Supply Management, which releases the report in a partnership with the Deutsche Borse Group.
In September, the business index, which covers Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, gained 2.7 points to reach 55.7.
Indexes for new orders, business output and supplier deliveries made gains, but the employment index dropped for the third consecutive month.
"While pick up is welcomed, growth is far from solid," said Philip Uglow, chief economist at MNI Indicators.
"The easing in the employment component is a notable setback this month, underlying the fragility of the recovery," he said.
