The monthly business conditions report issued by Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss is showing improvements in the economies of Oklahoma and 8 other states in the midwest.
The Mid-America Business Conditions Index rose from March to April.
“This is the highest overall reading that we have recorded in more than three years,” said Goss. “Strong growth in new orders over the past two months was the prime factor pushing the overall index higher.”
It went from 60.4 in April to 60.5 in May. The survey of supply managers is carried out in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
If there’s a problem, it’s the lack of skilled workers, according to Goss. Supply managers complain they cannot find enough skilled workers to fill the jobs that are out there.
In this report, there were no complaints about the energy industry dragging down the economies. Little wonder, given the expanded drilling in Oklahoma and other states.