Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: April 17, 2015

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) rose by 0.08% in March 2015, marking its fourth consecutive monthly increase. The increase in the LEI-N, which predicts economic growth in the state six months in the future, suggests that growth will be solid in Nebraska in the second half of 2015. Three of six components of the leading economic indicator rose during March. Respondents to the Survey of Nebraska Business were optimistic about sales and especially optimistic about employment over the next six months. There also was a solid increase in building permits in March, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, and a slight increase in airline passenger countx. Among declining components of the indicator, there was a fall in manufacturing hours during March. There also were diminished expectations for export activity. Specifically, a rising value for the U.S. dollar increases international competition for the state’s exporting businesses in agriculture and manufacturing. March was the eighth consecutive month in which the value of the U.S. dollar increased