By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – A monthly gauge of the state’s economic health shows Illinois finished 2018 rather strong.
The Flash index was up 0.2, to 105.5, the highest in 34 months. The study’s author, UI economics professor Fred Giertz, says the relatively good news “reflects both the national and Illinois economy after a period of slow growth.”
And Giertz says in the roller-coaster stock market news, keep in mind: the stock market and the economy are not the same thing.
“Part of the volatility of the stock market is because of the President’s changing attitudes,” Giertz says, “but the first two years of his administration, up to the last few months, saw a major increase in the stock market.”
The Flash Index takes into account personal income, consumer spending, and corporate earnings. The more the index is above one hundred, the greater the growth.
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]