Southern Nevada Index of Leading Economic Indicators

The CBER Clark County Business-Activity Index moved upward for May, recovering a good portion of last month’s loss. On a seasonally adjusted basis the index increased 0.16 percent. On a trend basis, measured as the change in the index from the same month a year ago, the index posted its only decline over the past year. All in all, the index continues to trend along a level plane without a marked change, either positive or negative.

CBER Clark County Business-Activity Index: January 1995=100

The CBER Tourism Index, pushing up against the capacity limit in rooms, shows no change from its upward trend. The index, though having declined a modest 0.54 percent from the previous month, stood 3 percent above the year ago level for May.

Tourism Index - Seasonally Adjusted

The CBER Clark County Construction Index, having turned upward in January 2007, continues to move up, a reflection of strong non-residential construction. Construction employment, having peaked in June 2006 at 111,600 jobs is down to 109,500 jobs, a modest decline given the sharp decline in residential construction. In short, the strong slip up in non-residential construction has kept overall construction on a level plane.

R. Keith Schwer

The Center for Business and Economic Research, UNLV - 4505 Maryland Parkway - Box 456002 - Las Vegas, Nevada