the chicago business barometer also known as the chicago pmi inched up to 522 in august from 521 in the prior month the index is produced by the ismchicago with mni it is released to subscribers three minutes before its release to the public at 945 am eastern the chicago pmi is the last of the regional manufacturing indices before the national ism data for july is released on thursday overall other regional surveys for august are suggesting a moderation in the ism factory index although it is expected to remain in expansionary territory according to rubeela farooqi chief us economist at high frequency economics economists surveyed by the wall street journal expect the ism factory index to slip to 518 in august from 528 in the prior month