United States Chicago PMI

Last Release

Sep 30, 2025

Actual

40.6

Units In

Points

41.5

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

Oct 31, 2025

Time to Release

26 Days 8 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
81 Nov 1973	20.7 Jun 1980	54.32 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 fell to 40.6 in September of 2025 from 41.5 in the previous month, well below market expectations that it would improve to 43 to reflect the sharpest contraction in activity in three months. It was the 22nd consecutive reading below the neutral threshold of 50, extending the prolonged contractionary trend in noted in the survey. New orders sank by 7 points from the previous month to nearly match the year-to-date low from May. Consequently, the softer demand backdrop drove firms to ease their headcounts and the employment gauge fell 4.1 points, lowering the index to its lowest since June of 2009 at the immediate aftermath of the global financial crisis. Still, production rose by 3.8 points to mark the first increase after five consecutive declines. On the price front, costs paid by companies moderated by 0.4 points.