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Consumer Confidence Turns Negative in Nebraska

Consumer confidence was negative in Nebraska during September while business confidence was positive, according to the latest monthly surveys from the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 
 
Results from the Survey of Nebraska Households indicate that consumer confidence fell to 97.0 in September, from the neutral value of 100.2 in August. A value of 97.0 suggests that consumer confidence is negative in the state.
 
“Concerns about the level of wages and the cost of living contributed to negative consumer confidence in Nebraska,” said Eric Thompson, an economist who serves as bureau director.  
Most 

important financial issue facing Nebraska households.
Most important financial issue facing Nebraska households.
 
Business confidence remained at the high level of 110.6 in September, according to the results of the Survey of Nebraska Business. Business confidence rose slightly from a value of 110.4 during August. 
 
The surveys also gathered information about the top issues faced by businesses. “Competition in labor and product markets were among the top business concerns,” according to Thompson. Twenty-six percent of businesses chose the availability of labor as their top concern while 16 percent chose competition from other businesses or a need to improve business practices.
 
The surveys are sent each month to 500 randomly selected Nebraska businesses and households. During September, 128 businesses responded to the Survey of Nebraska Business, for a response rate of 26 percent. There were 121 responses to the Survey of Nebraska Households, for a response rate of 24 percent.  
 
Published: October 5, 2018