By Associated Press - Monday, February 3, 2020

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The Institute for Supply Management, formerly the Purchasing Management Association, began formally surveying its membership in 1931 to gauge business conditions.

The Creighton Economic Forecasting Group uses the same methodology as the national survey to consult supply managers and business leaders. Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss oversees the report.

The overall index ranges between 0 and 100. Growth neutral is 50, and a figure greater than 50 indicates growth in that factor over the next three to six months.

Here are the state-by-state results for January:

Arkansas: The overall index for Arkansas climbed to 59.0 from December’s 53.0. Index components were new orders at 68.1, production or sales at 54.8, delivery lead time at 54.8, inventories at 61.8 and employment at 55.4. Over the past 12 months, average hourly wages for private workers in Arkansas rose by 6.7%, the report said. “Nondurable-goods manufacturers are outperforming durable-goods producers in terms of Arkansas job growth,” said Goss.

Iowa: Iowa’s overall index jumped in January to 55.7, compared with 50.9 in December. Index components were new orders at 60.8, production or sales at 53.1, delivery lead time at 53.6, employment at 53.5 and inventories at 57.7. Average hourly wages for private workers in Iowa rose 3% over the past 12 months, the survey report said. “Manufacturers closely linked to agriculture continue to experience slow to no growth,” he said.

Kansas: The state’s January index climbed to 58.4 from December’s 52.1. Kansas index components were new orders at 65.6, production or sales at 56.9, delivery lead time at 54.4, employment at 54.7 and inventories at 60.4. Average hourly wages for private workers in Kansas rose by 4.3% over the past 12 months, the report said. Both durable- and nondurable-goods manufacturers are expanding at a slow pace, the report said. “Even aircraft component manufacturers continue to expand despite Boeing’s problems,” Goss said.

Minnesota: Minnesota’s overall index soared to 57.9 from 50.7 in December. Index components were new orders at 64.1, production or sales at 57.3, delivery lead time at 54.1, inventories at 59.5 and employment at 54.3. Average hourly wages for private workers in Minnesota rose by 4.5% over the past 12 months, the survey report said. Durable-goods manufacturers in the state are shedding jobs, while nondurable-goods manufacturers continue to add jobs at a slow pace, he said.

Missouri: The state’s overall index rose to 56.2 from December’s 50.5. Missouri’s index components were new orders at 59.3, production or sales at 58.7, delivery lead time at 53.3, inventories at 56.8 and employment at 53.1. Average hourly wages for private workers in Missouri rose by 3.5% over the past 12 months, the report said. “Nondurable-goods manufacturers are expanding at a solid pace, while durable-goods producers are experiencing pullbacks in economic activity,” said Goss.

Nebraska: Nebraska’s overall index jumped 6.7 percentage points to hit 58.8, compared with 52.1 in December. Index components were new orders at 68.0, production or sales at 53.9, delivery lead time at 54.8, inventories at 61.7 and employment at 55.3. Average hourly wages for private workers in Nebraska rose by 5.2% over the past 12 months, the report said. “Nondurable-goods manufacturers in the state are expanding at a solid pace, while durable-goods producers are experiencing slight to no growth,” he said.

North Dakota: The state’s overall index climbed above growth neutral to reach 52.0 in January, compared with December’s 48.2. North Dakota’s index components were new orders at 63.0, production or sales at 39.3, delivery lead time at 49.8, employment at 48.7 and inventories at 58.9. Average hourly wages for private workers in North Dakota rose by 2.6% over the past 12 months, the survey report said. “Nondurable-goods manufacturers in the state are experiencing slow to no growth, while durable-goods producers are expanding at a solid pace,” said Goss.

Oklahoma: For the first time since October, Oklahoma’s overall index climbed above growth neutral. The overall index for January rose to 52.2 from December’s 48.4. Index components were new orders at 40.1, production or sales at 59.0, delivery lead time at 53.1, inventories at 56.1 and employment at 52.7. Average hourly wages for private workers in Oklahoma rose by 0.8% over the past 12 months, the report said. “Both durable- and nondurable-goods manufacturers in the state are experiencing slow to no growth,” Goss said.

South Dakota: The South Dakota overall index rocketed to a regional high of 59.3 from December’s 52.3. Index components were new orders at 68.2, production or sales at 56.2, delivery lead time at 54.9, inventories at 61.8 and employment at 55.4. Average hourly wages for private workers in South Dakota rose by 3.3% over the past 12 months, the report said. “Both durable- and nondurable-goods manufacturers in the state are expanding at a slow but positive pace,” he said.

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