Midwest Economic Conditions Take Leap Forward

The Survey Covers Nine States

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly survey report suggests economic conditions in nine Midwest and Plains states took a leap forward last month.

The report released Tuesday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index jumped to 61.1 in August, compared with 57.0 in July. It’s the 21st straight month that the index remained above growth neutral 50.0.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the region’s manufacturing growth of 3.1 percent over the past 12 months exceeds the U.S. growth rate of 2.6 percent.

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth. A score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Here is a look at Minnesota’s results for August:

The state’s overall index soared to 61.9 in August, compared with 55.8 in July. Index components were new orders at 67.0, production or sales at 62.3, delivery lead time at 61.0, inventories at 59.8 and employment at 59.4. Minnesota’s durable-goods sector has added 2.5 percent more jobs, while nondurable-goods producers added 3.6 percent more jobs over the past 12 months, Goss said.