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Nebraska Indicator: Nebraska Growth to Continue into 2018

The Nebraska economy is expected to grow in early 2018, according to the most recent leading economic indicator report from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
 
The indicator, a composite of economic factors that predict economic growth six months into the future, rose by 0.56 percent in July. 
 
“The July increase in the LEI-N, when coupled with a strong increase during June, indicates that the Nebraska economy will grow throughout the rest of 2017 and into the first month of 2018,” said economist Eric Thompson, director of the Bureau of Business Research at the university.
 
August 2017 Leading Economic Indicator Nebraska
August 2017 Leading Economic Indicator Nebraska
Four of six components of the indicator rose during July. Factories were busier in Nebraska, as manufacturing hours rose during the month. Consistent with that, the value of the U.S. dollar fell, which is positive for manufacturing and agricultural businesses which export. Overall business expectations also were solid, with respondents to the July Survey of Nebraska Business reporting plans to expand employment and sales over the next six months. In a positive sign for the labor market, initial claims for unemployment insurance fell during July.
 
“Growth in manufacturing and other sectors which export is very supportive of sustainable economic growth,” said Thompson. “It will be critical to monitor trends in manufacturing hours and the U.S. dollar in the coming months.”
 
Just two components of the LEI-N declined during July. There was a decrease in building permits for single-family homes in Nebraska, and a slight decline in airline passenger counts.
   
The leading economic indicator report is produced monthly by faculty and students in the Bureau of Business Research in Nebraska’s College of Business. 
 
Published: August 23, 2017