OMAHA, Nebraska -- June is another month of growth for the Midwest economy.
The nine-state Mid-America Business Conditions Index, which ranges between 0 and 100, climbed to 73.5 in June--up from from May’s 72.3.
"It's only off slightly from April's record high of 73.9, so the manufacturing economy is really bouncing back. The overall region remains below the pre-COVID-19 pandemic level, but we're headed in the right direction" says Creighton University Economist Ernie Goss.
He says the Index shows optimism in keeping workers on the job.
"None--zero percent of businesses surveyed expect layoffs for the rest of 2021. That's a good signal for hiring," Goss says.
He says businesses tell the survey they're still concerned about having enough skilled workers to fill jobs.
As for challenges for the rest of 2021, Goss says manufacturing supply managers identify rising input prices as their firm’s second greatest challenge, behind only supply bottlenecks as their top challenge.
The Mid-America Business Conditions Index surveys business leaders in Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.