The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) slipped marginally to a monthly reading of +0.02 in December from an upwardly revised +0.27 in November, the Chicago Federal Reserve reports. Today’s update translates to a three-month moving average (CFNAI-MA3) of -0.11, or comfortably above the -0.70 level that’s considered to be the tipping point for the onset of recessions. CFNAI, a weighted average of 85 indicators, is designed as a benchmark of US economic activity broadly defined.