Rising fuel prices haven't slowed Midwest economy

A survey suggests that rising fuel prices haven't slowed the economy in a nine-state region in the Midwest and Plains.

The overall Mid-America index rose to 58.6 in March from 58.4 in February. The index has risen for five months in a row.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says only a significantly higher increase in oil prices or a major world catastrophe would derail the regional economic expansion.

Survey organizers say it uses a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100 and that any score above 50 suggests growth while a score below 50 suggests decline for that factor. The survey of business leaders and supply managers covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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