Economic growth will continue in Nebraska during the first half of 2018, according to the most recent leading economic indicator report from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The indicator, a composite of economic factors that predict economic growth six months into the future, increased 0.83 percent in December.
“The indicator rose in December and has improved steadily over the last six months,” said economist Eric Thompson, director of the Bureau of Business Research at the university. “This consistent improvement indicates that the economy will expand steadily during the first half of 2018.”
Most components of the leading indicator rose during December, he said. The strongest components were businesses expectations and building permits for single-family homes. Manufacturing hours, the U.S. dollar exchange rate and initial claims for unemployment insurance also contributed to the increase in the indicator.
The leading economic indicator report is produced monthly by faculty and students in the Bureau of Business Research in Nebraska’s College of Business.
The full report and a technical report describing the indicators are available at the Bureau of Business Research website here.
