WSU Current Conditions Index Shows Some Improvement

After three months of decline, the WSU Current Conditions Index increased 0.7 percent in January. Growth in two of the six Index indicators was responsible for this increase: the 21 percent increase in the seasonally adjusted volume of airfreight shipments at Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport and the 2 percent increase in seasonally adjusted nonfarm wage and salary employment in the metro area. It will take time to determine whether this directional change in the Index is actually a trend. The number of home sales in Wichita continues to be a concern. From January 2010 to January 2011, the number of seasonally adjusted sales declined 1.9 percent, while sales declined 11 percent from December to January.