Nebraska’s leading economic indicator continues to rise

Nebraska’s main financial indicator rose in April, in accordance with the newest report from the College of Nebraska–Lincoln. The indicator, designed to foretell financial exercise six months into the longer term, elevated 1.85%.

“The April improve is the third consecutive enchancment, suggesting that the Nebraska economic system will proceed to develop by means of the fourth quarter of 2022,” mentioned economist Eric Thompson, director of the Bureau of Enterprise Analysis and Okay.H. Nelson Professor of Economics. “The resilience of the Nebraska economic system is notable given considerations about inflation and rising curiosity charges.”

The six parts of Nebraska’s main financial indicator are enterprise expectations, constructing permits for single-family houses, airline passenger counts, preliminary claims for unemployment insurance coverage, the worth of the U.S. greenback and manufacturing hours labored.

The main indicator improved for 3 major causes, together with a pointy improve in airline passenger counts throughout April.

“Airline exercise is recovering towards pre-pandemic ranges,” Thompson mentioned.

There additionally was a decline in preliminary claims for unemployment insurance coverage.

“Very low unemployment charges suggest alternatives for Nebraska employees however are difficult for the enterprise group,” Thompson mentioned.

Many respondents to the April Survey of Nebraska Enterprise reported that discovering employees is the most important problem confronted by their enterprise. But survey respondents had been assured concerning the future, reporting plans to develop each gross sales and employment over the following six months.

Learn the total report and a technical report describing the indicators.