The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for a nine-state region stretching from Arkansas to North Dakota, rose for February, according the latest survey results.
Ernie Goss, director of Creighton University’s Economic Forecasting Group says the Business Condition Index rose for the third month in a row.
Any number over fifty shows improvement.
Goss says the February employment index remained above growth neutral, but slipped a bit.
Goss says rural job growth in the nine-state region continues to significantly lag that of urban areas in the region.
Goss says inflation continues to be a concern in the nine states.
Goss says the February business confidence index, rose to 71.3 from 69.5 in January, the highest reading they have seen in six years.
The Creighton Economic Forecasting Group has conducted the monthly survey of supply managers in nine states since 1994.
(WNAX)