Bureau of Business Research
Date of this Version
9-5-2014
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Summary: Respondents to the August 2014 Survey of Nebraska Business remain positive in their outlook for sales and employment at their business. More respondents expect sales to rise (28%) than decline (20%) in the next six months. Similarly, more expect to increase (13%) rather than reduce (7%) employment. These August results were very consistent with findings from July and mark the seventh consecutive month in which Nebraska businesses held a positive outlook. Within the state, respondents located in Southeast Nebraska were especially positive in their outlook for sales and employment. Respondents from Northeast Nebraska and West Nebraska had only limited expectations for growth. When asked about the most important isue facing their business, seven in ten Nebraska respondents focused on business operations issues such as customer demand, the cost of supplies, labor quality and availability, competition from other businesses and improved business practices. More respondents were concerned about the quality and availability of labor than the cost of supplies, and there was evidence that concerns about labor supply were restricting job growth in non-metropolitan regions of the state. Three in ten respondents named taxes, the Affordable Care Act or other regulations as their top issue.
Comments
Prepared by the UNL College of Business Administration, Department of Economics