OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Business leaders in nine Midwest and Plains states are starting to believe that the region’s economy is picking up steam, according to results of a January survey released Monday.
The Business Conditions Index for the Mid-America region made a healthy jump in January, to 54.7, up from December’s 50.3 and November’s 47.5.
The index ranges from zero to 100, and any score above 50 suggests economic growth in the next three to six months. Conversely, a score below 50 suggests a contracting economy over the next three to six months.
While surveys over the past several months point to a still-fragile economic recovery, the January survey results are encouraging, said Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey.
“The likelihood of dipping back into recessionary territory has diminished significantly,” Goss said.
The Mid-America survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
