Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: May 20, 2016

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) rose by 1.21% in April 2016. The LEI-N, which predicts economic growth in the state six months in the future, rose even faster during the month of March. These two sharp increases indicate that economic growth will be strong in Nebraska during the second half of 2016. Three of the six components of the LEI-N improved during April. Business expectations were strong, as respondents to the April Survey of Nebraska Business predicted rapid growth in sales and employment over the next 6 months. In addition, for the third consecutive month, there was a drop in the value of the U.S. dollar during April. This supports export-oriented businesses in Nebraska. There also was a drop in initial claims for unemployment insurance, a positive sign for the labor market