Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago  

Release: Chicago Fed Midwest Economy Index  

Units:  Index Standard Deviation, Seasonally Adjusted

Frequency:  Monthly

The Relative Midwest Economy Index provides a picture of Midwest growth conditions relative to those of the nation. The Relative Midwest Economy Index is a weighted average of 129 state and regional indicators encompassing the entirety of the five states in the Seventh Federal Reserve District (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin).

The index measures growth in nonfarm business activity based on indicators of four broad sectors of the Midwest economy: 1) manufacturing, 2) construction and mining, 3) services, and 4) consumer spending.

A zero value for the relative MEI indicates that the Midwest economy is growing at a rate historically consistent with the growth of the national economy; positive values indicate above-average relative growth; and negative values indicate below average relative growth.

For further information about the Relative Midwest Economy Index, go to http://midwest.chicagofedblogs.org/archives/2011/03/mei_by_scott_br.html and http://chicagofed.org/digital_assets/publications/chicago_fed_letter/2010/cflnovember2010_280.pdf .