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registering 48 in November and 46.5 in October. Despite the gradual improvement, any score below 50 suggests the economy will contract in the coming months.
• "Our survey indicates that the region will add few jobs in the next three to six months," Creighton University Ernie Goss said.
• The December employment index dipped to 48 from November's 50.5, and Goss said some manufacturing jobs could disappear in the region.
• The survey of business leaders and supply managers uses a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
• Inflation pressure appears to have eased a bit in December. The prices-paid index, which tracks the cost of raw materials and supplies, declined to 63.5 in December from November's 64.4 and October's 71.5.
• The confidence index rose in December to the neutral level of 50 from November's 43.5.
• "An improving housing environment was an important factor pushing the index higher," Goss said.
• The inventory index rose to 51.5 in December from November's 44.9, so most businesses are going into the new year carrying more inventory than normal.
• Other components of the overall index were:
• -- Exports improved slightly to 50 in December from November's 47.9.
• -- The import index improved to 48.7 from November's 42.6.
• -- New orders increased to 46.4 in December from November's 46.
• -- Production or sales improved to 48 from November's 46.6.
• And delivery lead time grew to 53.5 in December from November's 51.8.