The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index for September, a leading economic indicator for a nine-state region stretching from Arkansas to North Dakota had another down month.

Indices over the past several months have indicated contraction in manufacturing and pointed to slow to no economic growth over the next three to six months for the overall regional economy.

Ernie Goss, director of Creighton University’s Institute for Economic Inquiry conducts the monthly survey of purchasing managers…

 

Goss says the regional employment gauge slumped for September to 42.6 from August’s much stronger 52.0, and indicates job losses for the manufacturing and value added services sector…

 

Goss says several important business sectors in the region are slumping…

 

Goss says looking ahead six months, economic optimism, as captured by the September business confidence index, slumped to 43.4 from 47.7 in August.