Index points to improved economic for Nebraska in second half of 2017

Nebraska’s economic growth is predicted to improve markedly in the second half of the year, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Bureau of Business Research reported on February 17.

The state’s leading economic indicator surged higher, rising to 1.97 percent in January, up from a revised negative 0.92 percent in December and negative 0.59 percent in November.

The rapid increase last month is a positive sign for the state’s economy, said economist Eric Thompson, the bureau’s director.

The index, a composite of six economic factors, is used to predict economic growth in the six months ahead. The value of each factor can range from negative 2.5 percent, which would indicate rapid economic decline, to positive 2.5 percent, indicating rapid growth. Zero is neutral.

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