The Chicago Purchasing Managers index, a barometer of regional US economic activity, slipped to 48.1 in September from 54.6 in August, the organisation reported today.
The slide is an ominous sign for the region and possibly for the US economy.
A figure below 50 indicates declining activity, while a number above 50 indicates growth.
The Chicago survey is important to financial markets as a precursor of the larger national survey released by the Institute for Supply Management, to be released this week.
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AFP