Regional jobs, economic growth down in new survey

A slowing economy, weaker export prices, and a looming longshoremen’s strike have contributed to a weaker overall picture in the most recent regional economic report.

Ernie Goss is an economist at Creighton University and publishes the monthly mid-America manufacturing index.

“It moved below growth neutral again, so it’s bouncing above and below growth neutral much like the national numbers that came out which is also showing the manufacturing sector is pulling back,” Goss said. “In fact, we lost jobs in our nine mid-America states in manufacturing.”

Additionally, Goss said President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs won’t help the situation.

“Across the board tariff increases would be a significant negative for the economy. In terms of China for example, China could just reduce the value of their Yuan, and that would offset any tariff restrictions on China,” Goss said. “Across the board tariffs just would not be good for this part of the country.”

The nine-state region included in this survey stretch from Oklahoma and Arkansas to the Dakotas.