The Creighton Economic Forecasting Group’s Business Conditions Index for the nine-state Mid-America region fell in August, the group said today. The index is an economic indicator compiled from a monthly survey of supply managers.

The index, which ranges between 0 and 100, fell to 52 from a reading of 54.1 in July. This is the 21st consecutive month that the index has been above the growth-neutral level of 50, but the August reading was the lowest since December 2009.

Creighton economics professor Ernie Goss said in a press release that the region is being negatively affected by pullbacks in business, consumer and local government spending. About 22 percent of supply managers expect a decline in business activity for the rest of the year, he added.

Iowa’s index fell to 59.3 in August from 62.6 in July, but was the highest reading in the nine-state region for both months. Goss said that manufacturing firms are reporting healthy activity, as are firms with close ties to agriculture, which is helping the overall index.

“Iowa economy continues to grow at a solid pace with few negative signals,” Goss said.

The index is conducted monthly using the same methodology used by the national Institute for Supply Management to measure business conditions.