Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: November 22, 2017

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) 1 fell by 0.24% during October of 2017. The decrease in the LEI-N, which is designed to predict economic activity six months into the future, suggests that economic growth will slow in Nebraska during the second quarter of 2018. The fall in the indicator was due to an decline in building permits for single-family homes and manufacturing hours-worked. There also was an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar in October. The increase in the value of the dollar is challenging for Nebraska exporters. In terms of positive components, there was a decline in initial claims for unemployment insurance on a seasonally-adjusted basis. There also were positive business expectations during the month. Businesses responding to the October Survey of Nebraska Business reported plans to increase sales and employment over the next six months