Regional Economics Commons^™

Research Report: Insights Into Community, Heather Akin, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Mary Emery, Katelyn Larson, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Timothy Meyer, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

Rural Nebraskans are more positive about the current change in their communities this year but are less positive about its future. Starting three years ago, the proportion believing their community changed for the worse was more than the proportion believing it had changed for the better (similar to what occurred in 2003 and 2009). However, last year that trend reversed back to the typical pattern and continued this year. This year, more people believe their community has changed for the better than has changed for the worse. When asked about what they expect ten years from now, this year more …

Research Report: Housing, Heather Akin, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Mary Emery, Katelyn Larson, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Timothy Meyer, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

Executive summary

Most rural Nebraskans support a variety of housing programs and priorities. The support for these various programs was similar to that found in 2016. At least three-quarters of rural Nebraskans would somewhat support or strongly support the following in their community: developing programs to help seniors age in their current home; offering low-interest loans or grants for repair, rehabilitation or home improvement; providing affordable rental housing; establishing a local program that would purchase and remove dilapidated houses making lots available for building; developing senior housing; purchasing, rehabilitating and reselling vacant housing; and establishing a local program that would …

Research Report: Artificial Intelligence, Heather Akin, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Mary Emery, Katelyn Larson, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Timothy Meyer, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

Some rural Nebraskans have used artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Just over one-quarter have used any AI tool. However, most younger persons have used AI tools.

Given that, it is not surprising that most rural Nebraskans are not at all or slightly informed about artificial intelligence. Just over one-third are moderately informed about AI, and just over one in ten are either very or extremely informed about AI.

Most rural Nebraskans are either not at all or slightly confident that AI is being used in the best interest of the public. Just over one-half are not at all confident that it …

Research Report: Economy And Trade Policy, Heather Akin, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Mary Emery, Katelyn Larson, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Timothy Meyers, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

Most rural Nebraskans are somewhat or very concerned about their household’s cost of living, their household income, and their household’s financial situation. This was particularly true for certain groups, including persons with lower household incomes, younger persons, and persons with construction, installation, or maintenance occupations.

When asked about the impacts of international trade, most rural Nebraskans think it is good for Nebraska’s economy. Residents of the Panhandle are the regional group least likely to think trade is good for the state’s economy.

Many rural Nebraskans think international trade is good for creating jobs in Nebraska, for their own standard of …

Research Report: Civil Discourse, Heather Akin, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Mary Emery, Katelyn Larson, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Timothy Meyer, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

Most rural Nebraskans believe the lack of civil or respectful discourse in our political system is either a very serious or a somewhat serious problem. The responses were fairly similar to those received last year.

In addition, most rural Nebraskans think Americans are more divided over politics than they were 10 years ago. The responses are similar to those received last year.

Despite that feeling, most rural Nebraskans have friends who have political views that are very different from their own. Yet, some rural Nebraskans are no longer able to talk to friends or family members because of their views …

Research Report: Well-Being, Heather Akin, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Mary Emery, Katelyn Larson, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

This year, rural Nebraskans are more pessimistic about their current situation than they’ve been since this study began. The proportion believing they are worse off than they were five years ago was 33 percent, up from 27 percent last year and 21 percent in 2022. This is the highest level across all years of the study. This increase in pessimism was matched with a sharp decrease in optimism. This year, just over one-third (36%) of rural Nebraskans believe they are better off compared to five years ago, down from 45 percent last year.

This trend continued when looking to the …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: July 3, 2024, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator-Nebraska rose by 0.26% in May 2024. The increase in the leading indicator, designed to predict economic growth six months into the future, implies that the Nebraska economy will grow through the end of 2024. There was an increase in manufacturing hours worked in May, as Nebraska continues to benefit from strong demand for food products. Business expectations remained positive. Respondents to the May Survey of Nebraska Business reported plans to increase sales and employment over the next six months.

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: May 22, 2024, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator-Nebraska rose by 0.42% in April 2024. The increase in the leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic growth six months into the future, implies that the Nebraska economy will grow through the 4th quarter of 2024. There was an increase in manufacturing hours worked in April, as the state and national manufacturing industry continued to strengthen. There was also a drop in initial claims for unemployment insurance, indicating that the labor market remains strong. Lastly, business expectations remained strong in April. Respondents to the April Survey of Nebraska Business reported plans to increase sales and …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: April 24, 2024, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator-Nebraska fell by 1.31% in March 2024. The increase in the leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic growth six months into the future, followed a very rapid 3.97% increase in February. Taken together, the February and March values continue to imply strong growth in the Nebraska economy in mid-2024. A decline in building permits for single-family homes contributed to the drop in the LEI-N during March. There also was a decline in manufacturing hours worked after a sharp February increase. On the positive side, business expectations remained strong in March. Respondents to the March Survey …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: March 27, 2024, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator-Nebraska rose by a very rapid 3.48% in February 2024. The increase in the leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic growth six months into the future, implies that there will be strong growth in the Nebraska economy during the summer of 2024. Three components of the leading indicator improved significantly during February. There was a sharp increase in manufacturing hours worked, given the continued strong demand for food products. Business expectations also were strong. Respondents to the February Survey of Nebraska Business reported plans to increase sales and employment over the next six months. The …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: March 1, 2024, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator-Nebraska rose by 0.58% in January 2024. The increase in the leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic growth six months into the future, suggests that the Nebraska economy will grow through mid-2024. Two components of the leading indicator improved during January. To begin with, respondents to the January Survey of Nebraska Business reported plans to increase sales and employment over the next six months. Further, the Nebraska labor market improved. Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell during January, suggesting that employers see sufficient demand to support their current workforce.

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: January 24, 2024, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator-Nebraska rose by 0.26% in May 2024. The increase in the leading indicator, designed to predict economic growth six months into the future, implies that the Nebraska economy will grow through the end of 2024. There was an increase in manufacturing hours worked in May, as Nebraska continues to benefit from strong demand for food products. Business expectations remained positive. Respondents to the May Survey of Nebraska Business reported plans to increase sales and employment over the next six months.

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: January 27, 2023, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N fell by just 0.03% in December 2022. The leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic growth six months in the future, suggests that there will be little growth in the Nebraska economy during the first half of 2023. Three components of the leading indicator worsened in December. There was a decline in airline passenger counts on a seasonally-adjusted basis. Building permits for single-family homes also declined and there was another increase in initial claims for unemployment insurance in Nebraska. One positive component during December was the value of the U.S. dollar. The dollar declined in value which …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: January 6, 2023, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N fell by 0.16% in November 2022. The leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic growth six months in the future, has fallen in four of the last six months. Such a decline implies that the Nebraska economy will stagnate during the first half of 2023. Two components of the leading indicator worsened significantly during November. There was an increase in initial claims for unemployment insurance, signaling softening in the Nebraska labor market. There was also a drop in manufacturing hours worked during the month. It will be important to monitor whether these two trends continue since a …

Recession Emerges As The Most Likely Scenario, Eric Thompson

Business in Nebraska

The United States economy faces the prospect of a second recession as the Federal Reserve Bank continues to raise interest rates to confront inflationary forces. These forces include elevated asset prices and a wage-price spiral. Further interest rate increases are likely given a challenging environment to reduce inflation. Challenges include limited migration and a slow-growing labor force, trade restrictions, regulatory restrictions that limit energy production and raise the minimum wage as well as excessive federal government spending. Federal spending through the CARES Act, Coronavirus Supplemental Appropriations Act, American Rescue Plan, and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act continue to fuel excess …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: November 30, 2022, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N fell by 0.12% in October 2022. The leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic growth six months in the future, has fallen in four of the last six months. Such a decline signals a stagnant economy in Nebraska at the beginning of 2023. Four components of the leading indicator worsened during October. There was an increase in initial claims for unemployment insurance, signaling some softening of the Nebraska labor market. There was also an increase in the value of the U.S. Dollar in October. A rising dollar creates challenges for Nebraska businesses that compete in international markets. …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: October 26, 2022, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N rose by 0.34% in September 2022, after a small decline in July and August. The leading indicator is designed to predict economic growth six months in the future. A flat value for the indicator over the last three months signals a stagnant economy in Nebraska at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023. Three components of the leading indicator improved during September. There was an increase in hours worked in the manufacturing industry. There was also a decline in initial claims for unemployment insurance and respondents to the September Survey of Nebraska Business reported plans to …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: September 21, 2022, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N changed little in August 2022, falling by just 0.01%. The leading indicator is designed to predict economic growth six months in the future. As a result, the flat value for the indicator in August signals that economic growth in Nebraska will be slow at the beginning of 2023. Several components of the leading indicator worsened during August. First, there was a decrease in building permits for single-family homes, likely in response to rising interest rates. Second, initial claims for unemployment insurance rose during August, suggesting some softening of the state’s strong labor market. By contrast, positive business expectations …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: August 24, 2022, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N fell by 0.08% during July 2022. The decrease in the leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic activity six months in the future, signals that economic growth in Nebraska will be slow at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023. The indicator declined for two primary reasons. First, there was an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar in July, creating challenges for agriculture, manufacturers, and other businesses that compete in international markets. Second, there was a decline in airline passenger counts in July, likely in response to large increases in airline ticket prices. …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: August 1, 2022, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N rose by 0.68% during June 2022. The increase in the leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic activity six months in the future, signals that the Nebraska economy will grow slowly through the end of 2022. The indicator improved for two primary reasons. First, there was an increase in manufacturing hours-worked during June. Second, respondents to the June Survey of Nebraska Business reported plans to increase sales and employment.

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: May 25, 2022, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N rose by 1.85% during April 2022. The increase in the leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic activity six months in the future, signals that the Nebraska economy will continue to grow through the 4th quarter of 2022. The indicator improved for three primary reasons. First, there was a sharp increase in airline passenger enplanements in April as that industry continues to recover. Second, initial claims for unemployment insurance fell, signaling a strong Nebraska labor market. Third, respondents to the April Survey of Nebraska Business reported plans to increase sales and employment. There also was a modest …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: April 20, 2022, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N rose by 0.89% during March 2022. The increase in the leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic activity six months in the future, signals continued economic growth in Nebraska through the 3rd quarter of 2022. The indicator improved for two primary reasons. First, initial claims for unemployment insurance fell during March suggesting continued strength in the Nebraska labor market. Second, respondents to the March Survey of Nebraska Business reported plans to increase sales and employment. By contrast, building permits for single-family homes fell during the month. There also was an increase in the value of the U.S. …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: February 23, 2022, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N rose by 0.58% during January 2022. The increase in the leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic activity six months in the future, signals moderate economic growth in Nebraska through the summer of 2022. The indicator improved for three primary reasons. There were positive business expectations in January according to respondents to the monthly Survey of Nebraska Business. Initial claims for unemployment insurance also fell during the month as a sign of strength for the labor market. The value of the U.S. dollar also fell, which is helpful for Nebraska businesses that compete in international markets.

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: February 2, 2022, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N rose by 0.73% during December 2021. The increase in the leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic activity six months in the future, signals moderate economic growth in Nebraska through June 2022. There were positive business expectations in December and an increase in building permits for single-family homes. Initial claims for unemployment insurance also fell during the month. Among declining indicators, there was a drop in manufacturing hours worked and airline passenger counts during December.

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: December 21, 2021, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N rose by 0.96% during November 2021. The increase in the leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic activity six months in the future, signals moderate economic growth in Nebraska during the second quarter of 2022. There were positive business expectations in November and an increase in manufacturing hours-worked and building permits for single-family homes. There also was a decline in initial claims for unemployment insurance. However, there was another increase in the value of the U.S. dollar during November. A higher dollar is challenging for Nebraska businesses that compete in international markets.

Growth Likely In A Time Of Uncertainty, Eric Thompson

Business in Nebraska

The United States economy continues to recover from the recession which occurred during March and April of 2020. Demand has been strong for both goods and services. At the same time, supply constraints are a concern in the economy, contributing to both higher prices and in some cases lost production within industries. Supply constraints are evident in both inputs (supplies) and labor. Labor force growth has been anemic in the last two years given slow population growth and a roughly 2 percent decline in the labor force participation rate. Looking forward, the baseline outlook is for the U.S. economic recovery …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: November 24, 2021, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N rose by 0.61% during October 2021. The increase in the leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic activity six months in the future, signals moderate economic growth in Nebraska during the spring of 2022. There was an increase in building permits for single-family homes in October and positive business expectations. There also was a decline in initial claims for unemployment insurance. However, several indicator components worsened during October. Airline passenger counts and manufacturing hours worked both declined slightly. There also was a modest uptick in the value of the U.S. dollar. A higher dollar is challenging for …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: October 27, 2021, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N fell by 0.91% during September 2021. The decline in the leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic activity six months in the future, suggests that economic growth will slow significantly in Nebraska during the first quarter of 2022. While business expectations remained solid, other components of the leading indicator worsened. Manufacturing hours worked, airline passenger counts, and building permits for single-family homes all declined. There also was an increase in initial claims for unemployment insurance during the month.

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: September 22, 2021, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N rose by 0.79% during August 2021. The increase in the leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic activity six months in the future, suggests that economic growth will be moderate in Nebraska during the first months of 2022. Growth will decline from the rapid increases seen during 2021. Three components of the leading indicator improved during August. Building permits for single-family homes bounced back in August after weak permit activity in July. There also was growth in manufacturing hours worked during the month. Finally, respondents to the August Survey of Nebraska Business reported plans to increase sales …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: August 25, 2021, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N fell by 0.17% during July 2021, the first decline in ten months. The decline in the leading indicator, which is designed to predict economic activity six months in the future, suggests that economic growth will slow in Nebraska during the first months of 2022. Four components of the leading indicator worsened during July. Building permits for single-family homes declined while there was a small drop in manufacturing hours-worked. Initial claims for unemployment insurance and the value of the U.S. dollar also rose during July. A rising U.S. dollar is challenging for Nebraska businesses, which compete in international markets. …