The Chicago Purchasing Managers' Business Barometer inched up to 59.8 in February from 59.6 in January, the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said Friday.
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 57.0 reading for the index.
The index had fallen the previous three months.
The production index slipped to 59.6 from 61.0, the new orders index decreased to 63.6 from 64.6, the order backlogs slumped to 53.7 from 58.8 in the prior survey and inventories gained to 52.8 from 52.1. The employment index surged to 59.3 from 49.2 and the supplier deliveries index was at 57.4, up from 56.3 last month. The prices paid index fell to 59.1 from 64.9.
