OMAHA- After five consecutive months of showing growth, Nebraska’s business conditions index has taken a turn for the worse, according to Creighton University’s Mid-America Business Conditions Index. Meanwhile, the June index for the broader nine-state area that includes Nebraska shows the regional economy as growing, albeit at a slower pace. Besides Nebraska, participating states include Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Minnesota and Arkansas.

Since 1994, the group has conducted a monthly survey of manufacturing and supply managers to gauge economic conditions and headwinds. For each state and also for the overall region, the survey looks at components such as employment, prices, confidence level, inventory and trade — and produces a score. Anything above a reading of 50 signals growth.

Nebraska’s collective reading for June declined to 46, compared to 51 a month earlier. Only one individual component — delivery lead time — reached an above-growth score. Nebraska’s score for employment was 40. Goss said that Nebraska’s downturn likely is attributable to factors including recent drought conditions and food processing exports.

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