The Midwest Economy Index (MEI), which approximates quarterly growth at a monthly frequency, rose to +1.59 in August from –3.58 in July. Contributions to the August MEI from all four broad sectors of nonfarm business activity and all five Seventh Federal Reserve District states increased from July. However, the relative MEI fell to –5.98 in August from –4.38 in July. Contributions to the August relative MEI from two of the four sectors and four of the five states decreased from July.