Pressures on ethanol industry weighing on Midwest recovery

In Nebraska, the Mid-America Business Conditions Index shows that pressures on the ethanol industry are one of the factors keeping the region’s economy from recovering. “Nondurable goods producers, including food manufacturers and ethanol processors, are experiencing job losses while durable goods manufacturers are expanding their job levels, but at a slow pace. As a result of the weak job market, approximately 30 percent of supply managers expect no pay raise next year. On average, supply managers project a 1.4 percent wage gain for the next year,” said Professor Ernie Goss from Creighton University.