Business Commons^™

Results Of The November Survey Of Nebraska Business: December 4, 2015, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

Respondents to the November Survey of Nebraska Business had a positive outlook for both employment and sales over the next six months. To be specific, 31 percent of respondents to the November 2015 survey expect to increase sales over the next 6 months while 20 percent expect sales to decrease. At the same time, 20 percent of respondents expect to grow employment compared to 4 percent who expect to reduce it. Businesses in the Southeast Nebraska region, which includes Lincoln, are most optimistic about the outlook for sales and employment. Businesses in the Omaha and Central Nebraska regions are modestly …

Results Of The October Survey Of Nebraska Business: November 6, 2015, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

Copyright 2016 Eric Thompson

Results Of The September Survey Of Nebraska Business: October 2, 2015, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

Respondents to the September Survey of Nebraska Business had a positive outlook for employment growth and a slightly positive outlook for sales growth over the next six months. To be specific, 27 percent of respondents to the September 2015 survey expected to increase sales over the next 6 months while 24 percent expected to decrease sales. Respondents also were more likely to plan to increase employment (12%) than reduce it (5%). Businesses in the Northeast Nebraska region were the most optimistic about their outlook for the next six months, followed by the Omaha region. The outlook also was modestly positive …

Results Of The August Survey Of Nebraska Business: September 4, 2015, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

Respondents to the August Survey of Nebraska Business had a positive outlook for sales and employment growth over the next six months. To be specific, 28 percent of respondents to the August 2015 survey expected to increase sales over the next 6 months while 18 percent expected to decrease sales. Respondents also were more likely to plan to increase employment (12%) than reduce it (5%). Businesses in the Omaha and Central Nebraska regions were the most optimistic about their outlook for the next six months, particularly for employment. The outlook also was positive in Northeast and Southeast Nebraska and neutral …

Results Of The July Survey Of Nebraska Business: August 7, 2015, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

Respondents to the July Survey of Nebraska Business reported optimism for business sales and employment growth over the next six months. To be specific, 27 percent of respondents to the July 2015 survey expected to increase sales over the next 6 months while 13 percent expected to decrease sales. Respondents also were much more likely to plan to increase employment (14%) than reduce it (4%). Businesses in the Omaha area were particularly optimistic about the outlook for sales and employment. Elsewhere in the state, businesses in Central Nebraska were optimistic in their outlook while businesses in Southeast Nebraska were positive. …

Results Of The January Survey Of Nebraska Business: February 6, 2015, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

1 Summary: Respondents to the January 2015 Survey of Nebraska Business had a modestly optimistic outlook for sales and maintained a very optimistic outlook for employment. January respondents were somewhat more likely to expect sales to rise (27%) than fall (24%) at their business over the next six months. Respondents were much more likely to plan to increase employment (21%) than to reduce it (6%). Within the state, optimism about sales and employment was especially strong in the Omaha area. Respondents from Southeast and West Nebraska were close to state averages. Respondents from Northeast and Central Nebraska held a neutral …

Results Of The December Survey Of Nebraska Business: January 21, 2015, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

Respondents to the December 2014 Survey of Nebraska Business maintained an optimistic outlook for sales and employment. December respondents were much more likely to expect sales to rise (28%) than fall (14%) at their business over the next six months and more likely to plan to increase (16%) than reduce employment (4%). Within the state, optimism about employment was broadbased. However, there were differences in the sales outlook. Respondents from the Omaha area were the most optimistic about sales. Respondents from Southeast and Central Nebraska were close to state averages. Respondents from West Nebraska had a neutral sales outlook and …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: January 16, 2015, Eric Thompson, William Walstad

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

Summary: The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) rose by 0.87% during December 2014. The increase in the LEI-N, which predicts economic growth in the state six months in the future, suggests that economic growth will accelerate in mid-2015. Five of six components of the leading economic indicator rose during December. Respondents to the Survey of Nebraska Business were particularly optimistic. Respondents predicted a strong increase in sales and employment over the next six months. There also was modest growth in airline passenger counts and building permits, and a slight increase in manufacturing hours. Finally, there was a decline in …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: March 20, 2015, Eric Thompson, William Walstad

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) was flat in February 2015, rising by just 0.01% during the month. The LEI-N predicts economic growth in the state six months in the future. The flat LEI-N, when combined with solid monthly increases in December 2014 and January 2015, suggest that economic growth in Nebraska will be solid in mid-2015. Three of six components of the leading economic indicator rose during February. Respondents to the Survey of Nebraska Business were optimistic. Respondents predicted a strong increase in employment over the next six months and an increase in sales. There also was a …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: June 19, 2015, Eric Thompson, William Walstad

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) rose by 0.16% in May 2015, marking its fifth increase in the last six months. Consistent increases in the LEI-N, which predicts economic growth in the state six months in the future, indicates that economic growth will be strong in Nebraska in the second half of 2015. Business expectations are one reason for the positive outlook. Respondents to the monthly Survey of Nebraska Business were very optimistic about employment growth over the next six months. A decline in the value of the U.S. dollar also contributed to the positive outlook. Other components of …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: September 18, 2015, Eric Thompson, William Walstad

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) rose by 0.31% in August 2015, for a fifth consecutive monthly increase. The increase in the LEI-N, which predicts economic growth in the state six months in the future, indicates consistent economic growth in Nebraska through the end of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016. The LEI-N rose because of strength in business expectations and the labor market. Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell sharply in Nebraska during August, indicating strength in the labor market. Further respondents to the monthly Survey of Nebraska Business were positive about sales and employment growth over …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: October 16, 2015, Eric Thompson, William Walstad

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) fell by 0.13% in September 2015. The decline in the LEI-N, which predicts economic growth in the state six months in the future, is the first in the last six months. The decline suggests that economic growth will be modest in Nebraska in the first quarter of 2016. The LEI-N fell because of a decline in manufacturing hours and an increase in initial claims for unemployment insurance during September. There also was an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar during the month, which creates a challenge for exporters, particularly in agriculture …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: December 18, 2015, Eric Thompson, William Walstad

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) rose by 0.38% in November 2015. The increase in the LEI-N, which predicts economic growth in the state six months in the future, suggests solid economic growth in Nebraska during the 2nd quarter of 2016. There was a split among components of the LEI-N during November. There was an increase in building permits for single-family homes and airline passenger counts. There also were positive business expectations, with respondents to the Survey of Nebraska Business predicting growth in both sales and employment at their businesses over the next 6 months. However, initial claims for …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: February 20, 2015, Eric Thompson, William Walstad

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) rose by 0.40% during January 2015. The increase in the LEI-N, which predicts economic growth in the state six months in the future, suggests that economic growth will accelerate in mid-2015. Three of six components of the leading economic indicator rose during January. Respondents to the Survey of Nebraska Business were optimistic. Respondents predicted a strong increase in sales and employment over the next six months. There also was a decline in initial claims for unemployment insurance, which suggests strength in the labor market. Building permits also edged up on a seasonally adjusted …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: April 17, 2015, Eric Thompson, William Walstad

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

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 …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: May 15, 2015, Eric Thompson, William Walstad

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) rose by 1.99% in April 2015, marking its fourth increase in the last five months. The sharp increase in the LEI-N, which predicts economic growth in the state six months in the future, portends strong economic growth in Nebraska in the second half of 2015. Business expectations are one reason for the positive outlook. Respondents to the monthly Survey of Nebraska Business were very optimistic about sales and employment over the next six months. The business outlook, in fact, was the strongest recorded in the monthly survey, which began in September 2011. A …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: July 24, 2015, Eric Thompson, William Walstad

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) rose by 0.40% in June 2015, its fifth increase in the last six months. The rise in the LEI-N, which predicts economic growth in the state six months in the future, indicates strong economic growth in Nebraska through the end of 2015. The leading economic indicator rose because of positive business expectations for sales and employment and an improving labor market. Respondents to the monthly Survey of Nebraska Business were optimistic about sales growth over the next six months. Businesses also had positive expectations for employment growth and there was a decline in …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: August 21, 2015, Eric Thompson, William Walstad

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) rose by 0.17% in July 2015, its fourth consecutive increase. The modest increase in the LEI-N, which predicts economic growth in the state six months in the future, portends consistent economic growth in Nebraska through the end of 2015 and early 2016. The leading economic indicator rose because of growth in passenger enplanements and single-family home building permits during July and strong business expectations. In particular, respondents to the monthly Survey of Nebraska Business were positive about sales and employment growth over the next six months. Among other components of the leading indicator, …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: November 20, 2015, Eric Thompson, William Walstad

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) rose by 1.06% in October 2015. The increase in the LEI-N, which predicts economic growth in the state six months in the future, followed a decline during September. Taken together, results for the two months suggest that economic growth will be modest in Nebraska at the beginning of 2016. Most components of the LEI-N improved during October. There was an increase in manufacturing hours and airline passenger counts. There also was a drop in initial claims for unemployment insurance and the value of the U.S. dollar. The decline in the value of the …

Quarterly Business Indicators 2nd Quarter 2015, Unl Bureau Of Business Research

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Quarterly Business Indicators for the 2nd quarter of 2015 show a growing Lincoln economy. The rate of growth, however, lagged rapid national growth over the last year.

The Lincoln MSA unemployment rate is below year-ago levels (Figure 1) and is less than half of the U.S. rate (Figure 2). Non-farm employment, which is measured via a survey of business, grew by 1.5% in Lincoln between the 2nd quarter of 2014 and 2015 (Figure 4). This was solid growth but was below the U.S. growth rate. Further, employment as measured by the household survey was flat (Table 1).

Among individual …