Survey: Regional economy slows to crawl in Sept.

(AP) - A new survey of business executives says inflation and job losses are weighing on the economy in nine Midwest and Plains states.

The report released Wednesday also suggested the region's economy won't be growing in the coming months. The overall economic index for the region fell to 49.6 in September from August's 51.4.

Any score below 50 on the index, which ranges between 0 and 100, indicates a contracting economy over the next three to six months.

Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss says business leaders remain pessimistic about their prospects because of problems in the national economy.

The report covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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