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Chicago Fed factory index drops in October Thursday December 11, 11:59 am ET NEW YORK, Dec 11 (Reuters) - The Chicago Federal Reserve Bank said on Thursday its Midwest manufacturing index fell back in October after a strong rise the month before, but nevertheless the region's factories are on the mend. The Chicago Fed's manufacturing index dropped 1.8 percent to 111.0 in October, after an upwardly revised surge of 3.9 percent in September. Compared with a year ago, the index was down 2.2 percent. Chicago Fed senior economist William Strauss cautioned not to read too much into the October decline,...

Chicago Fed factory index rises in September Monday November 10, 12:00 pm ET NEW YORK, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The Chicago Federal Reserve Bank said on Monday its Midwest manufacturing index rose in September for the first time since June, suggesting the broad-based U.S. economic recovery may be reaching the country's factory segment. The Chicago Fed's manufacturing index ticked up 2.7 percent to 110.0 in September from a downwardly revised 107.1 in August. Compared with a year earlier, output in the Midwest was down 4.0 percent, while national output was 0.6 percent below year-ago levels. Factory output in the automotive...