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Manufacturing activity in the Chicago region improved in May but showed contraction showed for a fourth straight month, the National Association of Purchasing Management said Friday.

NAPM-Chicago’s monthly index improved to a reading of 49.1, from 48.3 in April. Figures lower than 50 signal contraction.

Economists had expected the index to rise to 48.5, Bloomberg reported.

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