LINCOLN- Nebraska’s Leading Economic Indicator, which is designed to predict economic activity over the next six months, rose 0.3 % in October, according to the most recent report from the UNL's Bureau of Business Research. "The modest increase in the leading indicator suggests that economic growth will continue through the first half of 2024, but that growth will be slow," said economist Eric Thompson.

The six components of the Leading Economic Indicator are business expectations, building permits for single-family homes, airline passenger counts, initial claims for unemployment insurance, the value of the U.S. dollar and manufacturing hours worked. Two of six indicator components improved significantly during October. Business expectations also were positive in Nebraska during October.

The UNL report was much less pessimistic than one released earlier this month by Creighton University. That Rural Mainstreet Report, which covers a 10-state region, showed economic activity in November was at its lowest level in three years. The report also found that Nebraska's level of economic activity was lower than the region as a whole.

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