OMAHA, Nebraska -- A February survey of Midwest business leaders shows an ever-improving economy.
The nine-state Midwest Business Conditions Index's reading for last month is 69.6--up from 67.3 in January.
The Index's 0-100 scale uses a reading of 50 as growth neutral.
"This is the highest reading we've recorded since October of last year. It's the second highest since April of 2004," says Creighton University Economics Professor Ernie Goss.
He says the Index continues to show employment challenges across the region.
"Regional employment is still 4.5 percent down from pre-COVID levels, and also down about 4.7 percent year-over-year. This economy still has some room--we need to add back some jobs" Goss says.
He says the nine-state Midwest Business Conditions Index shows the region is adding jobs and economic activity, and that growth will stay healthy for the first half of 2021
"The Biden Administration's economic stimulus package of $1.9 trillion--not all of that's in 2021. That's really going to kick this economy, along with a rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine--that's the most important factor" Goss says.
The Midwest Business Conditions Index is a monthly survey of business and manufacturing leaders in Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.