The Chicago Purchasing Managers' Business Barometer gained to 55.7 in September from 53.0 in August, the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said Monday.
The data is compiled on a seasonally adjusted basis. An index reading below 50 signals a slowing economy, while a level above 50 suggests expansion.
Economists polled by Thomson Reuters predicted a 54.0 reading for the index.
The production index climbed to 58.0 from 53.0, the new orders index increased to 58.9 from 57.2, the order backlogs rose to 46.7 from 46.5 in the prior survey and inventories grew to 46.0 from 45.0. The employment index fell to 53.2 from 54.9 and the supplier deliveries index was at 53.7, up from 50.8 last month. The prices paid index slid to 57.1 from 65.2.
