Goss Institute business index for Colorado improves, but still 'less than healthy' - St. Louis Business Journal:

coeragnheidur3778.blogspot.com
The index for based on a survey ofthe state's supplu managers, rose to 43.5 in February from 30.5 in Januaryu and 41.5 in December, said Goss, head of the Goss Institutr for Economic Research, which conducts the survey. The Businesw Conditions Index ranges between 0and 100. An index greater than 50 indicatese expectations of an expanding economy over the next thre e tosix months; 50 is growthb neutral. Goss said that the Colorado survey showec new orders at an index of productionat 35.6, delivery lead time at inventories at 40.3, and employment at 40.6.
"Thd global recession has had a significant and negative impact onthe state’s large computer and electronicd manufacturing industry," Goss said in a statement. "Sincw the beginning of the nationaol recession, this industry has lost almostt 2,000 jobs. I expect this industry to be the state’as turnaround industry and provide an earlg signal of the beginningt of aneconomic expansion." The Goss surve y also includes Utah and Wyoming. Acroses the three-state region, the Business Conditions Indezx stoodat 44.6 in February, recoverinvg from January’s record low of Goss said.
"For the fourthh straight month, the index dipped beloww growth neutral," Goss said. "Until recently, growth in the region’s large energy sector had bolstere growth inthe region. However, a weakening manufacturinb sector, especially for firms heavily dependengt oninternational sales, has pushed the region firmly into recessionh territory." He said the regional index points to "recessionary economicd conditions for the region at least into the thirde quarter of 2009.
" In a separate part of the survey, supply managers in the three-statwe region were asked about the federal stimulus Only 3 percent said they expected the package would be effective or very effectivre at reviving the economy, Goss while 22 percent said they expected the stimulus would be ineffectiv and 75 percent weren't The Goss Institute uses the same methodology for its surveu as the Institute for Supply Management, formerly the Purchasingt Management Association, in its national surve y of its members.