The Business Conditions Index, for the nine state Mid America region which ranges between 0 and 100, declined to 51.3 from October’s 51.8. After rising to its highest level in more than three years in June, the overall reading has hovered in a range pointing to positive, but much slower, growth for the overall regional economy over the next three to six months.
Dr.Ernie Goss director of Creighton University’s Economic Forecasting Group says businesses are not adding as many workers.

This month 46 percent of supply managers reported the number of applicants exceeded the number of jobs available, while 28 percent indicated the number of jobs was greater than the number of applicants.
Goss says there is a problem in that.

Goss said based on the numbers, he is making a prediction for December.

Goss says looking ahead six months, economic optimism, as captured by the November business confidence index, climbed to 61.5 from 61.2 in October.