Only 1 of MNI's Chicago Business Barometer components rose in December as the headline index tumbled from October's multi-year highs at 66.2 to today's December print of 58.3 - lowest in 5 months and missing expectations for the 2nd month in a row. While new orders, prices paid, and production all fell, employment (the sole improvment) rose.
[3]
Breakdown via MNI
- Prices Paid fell compared to last month
- New Orders fell compared to last month
- Employment rose compared to last month
- Inventory fell compared to last month
- Supplier Deliveries fell compared to last month
- Production fell compared to last month
- Order Backlogs fell compared to last month
* * *
So lower prices, less orders, less production... let's hire more people?
