Index Suggests Slower, but Still Above-Trend Midwest Growth Through November
The Midwest Economy Index (MEI), which approximates quarterly growth at a monthly frequency, fell to +1.79 in November from +3.00 in October. Contributions to the November MEI from all four broad sectors of nonfarm business activity and all five Seventh Federal Reserve District states decreased from October. The relative MEI moved down to +1.99 in November from +2.78 in October. Contributions to the November relative MEI from two of the four sectors and three of the five states decreased from October.