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

Comments

Copyright 2018 Eric Thompson, UNL 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.

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