Nebraska Business and Consumer Confidence Indexes: December 11, 2018

Nebraska consumer and business confidence remained positive during November 2018. The Business Confidence Index – Nebraska (BCI-N) stood at 107.2 in November 2018, well above the neutral value of 100, although down from the sky-high level of 117.3 achieved during October. The Consumer Confidence Index – Nebraska (CCI-N) stood at 106.4 in November, down slightly from 108.3 in October, but still well above the neutral value. When asked about the most important issue facing their business, 28 percent of respondents chose the availability and quality of labor while 24 mentioned customer demand and 9 percent mentioned the cost of goods and services or taxes. November was the second consecutive month that labor availability was the top issue in the business survey. Almost half of responding households listed a cost factor as their top financial concern, with 49 percent choosing taxes, health care costs, major expenses (furniture, appliances, automobiles) or the general cost of living. Twenty-three percent reported that their primary financial issue was either saving or paying off debt while 12 percent choose their level of wages or household income