As
the chart above indicates, the U.S. economy grew last month. The Chicago Fed
National Activity Index rose 0.14 in August. Moreover, the three months moving average
increased to -0.18 in August from -0.24 in July. But as the data indicates, the pace of growth
is still marginal. Anything reading above zero indicate trends above historical average. On the other hand, below historical trends are anything readings below zero.