Bureau of Business Research
Date of this Version
7-3-2019
Document Type
Article
Citation
Copyright 2019 Eric Thompson, UNL Bureau of Business Research
Abstract
Business confidence fell sharply in Nebraska during June 2019 and consumer confidence dropped modestly. The Consumer Confidence Index – Nebraska (CCI-N) fell to 104.4 in June, above the neutral value of 100 but below the May value of 105.3. The Business Confidence Index – Nebraska (BCI-N) fell to 100.3 in June, at the neutral level and down 13 percent from 113.2 in May. When asked about the most important issue facing their business, 35 percent of respondents chose customer demand while 21 mentioned the quality and availability of labor, 16 percent mentioned competition from other businesses and 9 percent flooding or weather. Fifty-three percent of responding households listed a cost factor as their top financial concern, including taxes, health care costs, the general cost of living and major expenses (furniture, appliances, automobiles). Notably, an elevated 16 percent of households listed taxes as their top concern. Twenty-three percent reported that their primary financial issue was either saving or paying off debt.
Comments
Prepared by the UNL College of Business, Bureau of Business Research