The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index for March, a leading economic indicator for a nine-state region stretching from North Dakota to Arkansas, fell from February’s reading. Indices over the past several months are still pointing to positive economic gains over the next three to six months for the region.

Ernie Goss, director of Creighton University’s Economic Forecasting Group says the numbers fell a bit from month to month…

 

Goss says the regional employment gauge remained in a range indicating positive but slow job growth for manufacturing and value-added services firms in the region…

 

Looking ahead six months, Goss says economic optimism, as captured by the March business confidence index, decreased to 55.7 from February’s 58.4…

 

Goss says inflation also continues to slowly increase in the region.