From Dallas to Philly, and from New York to Richmond, the regional Fed surveys have been ugly. So not to be outdone, Chicago Fed's National Activity Index collapsed from +0.34 to -0.41 (dramatically missing expectations of 0.24) and testing 6-month lows. The CFNAI has now missed expectations for 7 of the last 9 months. Ugly year so far... The reading below zero indicates below-trend growth in the national economy and easing pressures of future inflation. Charts: Bloomberg