For a ninth straight month, the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota and the Dakotas to Arkansas, stayed in growth territory.

Ernie Goss, director of Creighton University’s Economic Forecasting Group says the survey continues to find good news….

Goss says job growth is following along…

Goss says businesses are having transportation and supply problems…

Goss says the wholesale inflation gauge for the month soared to 95.2, a record high for the region and up from January’s 10-year high of 91.1. Goss says looking ahead six months, economic optimism, as captured by the February Business Confidence Index, dropped to 50.0 from January’s 53.6.