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Manufacturing activity in the Chicago region improved this month, the National Association of Purchasing Management said Friday.

NAPM-Chicago’s monthly index rose to 56.6 from 52.9 in November, the group said. Readings above 50 signal expansion.

Economists had expected the index to fall to 51.7, Bloomberg reported.

Chicago is a major center of U.S. manufacturing, which is one of trucking’s largest and most important customers.