--Chicago purchasers' Feb adjusted index at 43.2 vs Jan's 40.2
--Chicago purchasers' Feb prices paid at 64.9 vs Jan's 62.9
--Chicago purchasers' Feb supplier deliveries 47.0 vs Jan 44.2
--Chicago purchasers' Feb employment at 42.2 vs Jan's 42.2

By BridgeNews
Chicago--Feb. 28--The Purchasing Management Association of Chicago said its index of area economic activity in February was at an adjusted 43.2, compared with 40.2 in January. The prices paid component was at 64.9, versus January's 62.9, while supplier deliveries were at 47.0, vs. 44.2, and the employment index was at 42.2, steady with a month ago. A reading above 50.0 generally indicates expansion; one below 50.0 usually means economic contraction.
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The purchasing managers' group said the business barometer slowed the rate of decline from the previous month. Order backlogs were at the highest level since October, it said, while inventories showed 11 months of contraction and prices paid posted their 19th month above 60.0. The National Association of Purchasing Management's monthly survey is due Thursday. The national index in January was 41.2.
About 200 companies participate in the Chicago-area survey, which covers northern Illinois and northwest Indiana. End Copyright 2001 Bridge Information Systems Inc. All rights reserved.