Illinois Economy Continues Slow Growth

The latest numbers on the Illinois economy continues to show slow growth.

The University of Illinois Flash Economic Index for September dropped three tenths of a point to 104-point-two. Any score over 100 indicates the Illinois economy is expanding.

Economic Fred Giertz says even though the Flash Index has dropped for the second straight month, it does not mean Illinois is headed into a recession.

"Most of the signs are positive for continued growth, but slow growth and not the rapid growth people may like," he said.

In fact, Giertz says the Illinois economy has been growing since 2009—the end of the great recession. It is one of the longest sustained growth periods in history.

The Flash Index measures the state’s economic health through sales, business and personal income tax revenue.