Missouri: The January Missouri Business Conditions Index climbed back above growth neutral for January. The index, a leading economic indicator from a survey of supply managers, increased to 51.0 from 49.0 in December. Components of January’s Business Conditions Index were new orders at 50.3, production or sales at 50.8, delivery lead time at 55.0, inventories at 49.6, and employment at 49.4. “Among the nine Mid-America states, Missouri has lost more jobs to the recession and subsequent economic weakness than any other state. While Missouri’s manufacturing sector is recording solid improvements other industries, such as telecommunications, continue to experience pullbacks in business activity,” said Goss. Jobs needed to get back to pre-recession level: A gain of 161,000, or 6.1 percent.