March Chicago Fed Index Increases to Positive 0.26

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for March increased to positive 0.26 from a revised positive 0.16 reading in February, while the three-month moving average, or CFNAI-MA3, slipped to positive 0.20 in March, from February’s revised positive 0.27, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Thursday.

In March 2010, the index was positive 0.51, while the CFNAI-MA3 was positive 0.05 in that month.

The February index was originally reported as negative 0.04, while the February CFNAI-MA3 was first reported as positive 0.11.

The positive reading for the index indicates national economic growth was somewhat above its historical trend, and suggests limited inflationary pressure from economic activity in the coming year, the Chicago Fed said.

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