For the 12th straight month the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index remains in positive growth territory. After rocketing to a record high 73.9 in April; the Index, which ranges between 0 and 100, slipped to still strong 72.3 for May.
However, manufacturing supply managers report that labor shortages and supply bottlenecks continue to restrain growth. Almost one of three, or 30%, of supply managers identified soaring input prices as the greatest 2021 economic challenge for their firm.
The Index is a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas. The Kansas Business Conditions Index for May fell to 71.8 from April’s 75.0.