Iowa’s Business Conditions Index compiled by Creighton University rose into growth territory in October after two months of readings below growth-neutral.

Iowa hit 53.5 in October, up from 49.6 in September. Anything above 50 suggests growth. 

The segments feeding into the index based on a survey of supply managers included new orders at 59.3; production or sales, 57.9; delivery lead time, 49.2; employment, 51.2; and inventories, 49.8.

“Over the past 12 months the state’s manufacturing sector has boosted jobs by 2.5%, second among the nine Mid-America states, and hourly wages by 3.6%, fourth in the region,” Creighton economist Ernie Goss said in a statement. “Based on recent surveys of manufacturers in the state, I expect job growth to slow, but remain positive, and hourly wage growth to continue at its current solid pace through the first quarter of 2020,” said Goss.

The index for the nine-state region also climbed into growth territory after two months of below-growth indicators, rising to 52.6 from 49.1 in September. 

“For 2019, the Mid-America economy has been expanding at a pace well below that of the nation,” Goss said. “The trade war and the global economic slowdown have cut regional growth to approximately one-half that of the U.S. October’s survey results indicate that regional growth is likely to bottom at positive, but slow rate, in the fourth quarter of this year,” Goss said.