The American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB) rose 0.3% in October, following an upwardly revised gain of 0.4% in September. Accounting for adjustments, the CAB is up 4.2% over this time last year, a marked increase over earlier comparisons and the greatest year-over-year gain since August 2014. All data is measured on a three-month moving average. On an unadjusted basis, the CAB climbed 0.3% in October following a 0.4% gain in September. 

In October, three of the four core categories for the CAB improved. Production-related indicators, product prices, and inventory were positive, while equity prices remained flat.