A monthly survey of members of the Institute for Supply Management-Chicago reported Wednesday a second month of slowing momentum.

The Chicago Business Barometer, a measure of manufacturing and non-manufacturing activity, slightly decreased from 59.7 to 59.1 in June. June marks the ninth consecutive month of a reading above 50, which indicates expansion.
“The numbers that came out, while a bit lower than what they were, are still suggestive of a very, very strong growth for the sector, but not as strong as what was happening a few months early,” said William Strauss, senior economist and economic adviser for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Strauss said the growth levels seen at the beginning of the year were unsustainable in the long run, so this is a expected slowdown in growth as the industry begins to recoup.

“The growth rates are easing from being boiling, to where it’s just steaming,” Strauss said.