Bureau of Business Research
Date of this Version
3-21-2018
Document Type
Article
Citation
Prepared by the UNL College of Business, Bureau of Business Research
Abstract
The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) 1 rose by 1.03% during February of 2018. The increase in the LEI-N, which is designed to predict economic activity six months into the future, suggests that the Nebraska economy will grow steadily through the third quarter of 2018. Solid business expectations and a strong labor market were the primary reasons for the increase in the LEI-N. Respondents to the February Survey of Nebraska Business reported plans to increase sales and employment at their businesses over the next six months. Further, there was a decline in initial claims for unemployment insurance during February, which is a positive sign for the labor market. In terms of negative components, there was a small increase in the value of the U.S. dollar, which increases competitive pressure for Nebraska exporters.
Comments
Copyright 2018 Eric Thompson, UNL Bureau of Business Research