Utilizing video content to support public relations efforts is a great way to communicate a message. This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic because more people are online due to working remotely and are seeking engaging content that informs and educates.
Lukas Partners supports Creighton University Economics professor, Ernie Goss, Ph.D, to create and distribute a monthly video summarizing his Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a survey of supply managers, which is a leading economic indicator for the nine-state Midwestern region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas.
In Dr. Goss’ November video recap, he explains how the Mid-America Business Conditions Index dropped for the first time since April, signaling slower economic growth. According to Dr. Goss, the decline was largely due to an upturn in COVID-19 infections and additional economic lockdowns because of the pandemic.
However, there have been some key improvements since the index bottomed out in April 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic—some of the recent results are:
- Regional manufacturing has expanded at a solid pace, hiring back furloughed workers.
- Short-term interest rates remain at near record lows.
- Exports and imports are growing due to the global economy improving, which is encouraging manufacturers to increase imports from trading partners.
- In October 2020, the index expanded to its highest level in 16 years, and the employment gauge soared to its highest level in more than two decades.
Looking ahead to the next six months, Dr. Goss predicts economic optimism.
View Goss’ November recap video: http://bit.ly/MidAmericaBCINov2020Video