A new monthly survey shows the economy in nine Midwest and Plains states is recovering in the wake of a devastating global pandemic, with the survey's overall index increasing to its highest reading since it began almost three decades ago.
The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions for April released Monday came in at 73.9 from March’s 68.9. Any score above 50 on the survey’s indexes suggests growth. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says the region has regained more than half the 106,000 manufacturing jobs lost to the pandemic in April 2020.
The monthly survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
The Kansas Business Conditions Index for April climbed to 75.0 from March’s 67.3. Ernie Goss, PhD, director of Creighton University’s Economic Forecasting Group says the state's index was held up in the survey by good scores for new orders, inventory, and delivery lead time.
“Compared to pre-COVID-19 levels, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Kansas manufacturing employment is down 12,400 jobs, or 7.3%, while average hourly manufacturing wages are 1.1% higher,” said Goss.