The Chicago Purchasing Managers’ Business Barometer fell to 34.9 in May from 40.1 in April, the National Association of Purchasing Management — Chicago said Friday.
The production index was unchanged at 38.1, the new orders index fell to 37.3 from 42.1, the order backlogs index dropped to 26.3 from 36.9 in the prior survey, and inventories rose to 31.5 from 30.6.
The employment index decreased to 25.0 from 31.8 and the supplier deliveries index was at 43.0, off from 45.4 last month. The prices paid index increased to 29.8 from 28.4.