Chicago manufacturing index inches up in October

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch)
The Chicago PMI business barometer edged up in October to 49.9% from 49.7% in the prior month, but remained below the key 50% mark for the second straight month
Readings below 50% indicate contraction
The new-orders index rose to 50.6% from 47.4%, but the production gauge fell to 51.8% from 55.4% and the inventories component dropped to 49.6% from 51.1%,
The employment index, meanwhile, fell to a 33-month low of 50.3%
Also, the prices paid component slipped to 59.3% from 63.2%