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Manufacturing activity in the Chicago region jumped in September, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Thursday.

ISM-Chicago’s monthly index rose to a reading of 60.4, from 56.7 in August. Figures greater than 50 signal expansion, while below that indicate contraction.

The jump exceeded the highest estimates of surveyed economists, Bloomberg reported, with the median projecting the index would fall to a 55.5 reading

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