Nebraska Business and Consumer Confidence Indexes: November 9, 2018

Nebraska consumer and business confidence improved during October 2018. The Business Confidence Index – Nebraska (BCI-N) rose to 117.3 in October from 110.6 in September. The Consumer Confidence Index – Nebraska (CCI-N) rose to 108.3 in October after a sub-par level of 97.0 during September. Both business and consumer confidence were well above the neutral level of 100.0. When asked about the most important issue facing their business, 29 percent of respondents chose the availability and quality of labor while 27 mentioned customer demand and 15 percent mentioned competition from other businesses. This is the first time that labor availability was the top issue in the monthly business survey. Almost half of responding households listed a cost factor as their top financial concern, with 45 percent choosing taxes, health care costs, major expenses (furniture, appliances, automobiles) or the general cost of living. Thirty-two 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