OMAHA, N.E.(KELO)- Our regional economy is “stuck in neutral”…but South Dakota continues to shine.

The April “Mid-America Business Conditions Index” from Creighton University bounced to its best reading since last September, but it’s barely into positive territory.

Higher interest rates are holding the economy back.

Economist Ernie Goss says that’s being driven by too much government spending, which shows no signs of slowing.

Involuntary job losses in the region soared by nearly 25-percent, with 35-thousand job losses in the last year.

At the same time, South Dakota job losses declined by nearly 17 percent.