Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: June 20, 2014

Authors

Eric Thompson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
William Walstad, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Shannon McClure, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

6-2014

Document Type

Article

Comments

Prepared by the UNL College of Business Administration, Department of Economics

Abstract

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) rose by 0.13% during May 2014. The rise in the LEI-N, which predicts economic growth in the state six months in the future, is the fourth consecutive monthly increase and provides further reason to expect solid growth in the Nebraska economy in the second half of 2014. Among the growing components of the leading economic indicator, there was growth in manufacturing hours and airline passenger counts. There also was solid improvement in business expectations. Specifically, respondents to the Survey of Nebraska Business predicted an increase in sales at their business over the next six month. There also was a decline in the value of the U.S. Dollar during May, which is positive for Nebraska exporters. Among struggling components of the indicator, there was a decline in building permits for single-family homes in Nebraska in May and an increase in initial claims for unemployment insurance.