DALLAS, Nov. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Bank's Michigan Economic Activity Index was unchanged in September at a level of 118.1. September's reading is 20 points, or 21 percent, above the index cyclical low of 97.9. The index averaged 118.2 points for all of 2017, one point above the index average for 2016. August's index reading was 118.1.

Comerica Bank's Michigan Economic Activity Index was unchanged in September after easing for each of the three prior months. Recent negatives have been broad-based, but offset by ongoing state job growth. For the year ending in October, Michigan payrolls are still up 1.4 percent. However, we expect that year-over-year gain in payrolls to decrease as we finish out 2018 and turn into 2019. State job growth and auto production will both be challenged in the years ahead after General Motors announced the closure of 5 plants in the U.S. and Canada in 2019, including the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant and the Warren, Michigan transmission plant. A total of nearly 15,000 workers will be laid off due to the five plant closures. In September, five Michigan Index components were positive. They were nonfarm employment, unemployment insurance claims (inverted), housing starts, house prices and auto production. Industrial electricity demand, hotel occupancy and state sales tax revenues were negatives in September for Michigan, while total state trade was unchanged. Our 5 State Index graph on this page shows flattening state indexes for Texas, California and Michigan, all sizeable states with significant industrial bases. This should be taken as a cautionary sign for the overall U.S. economy at the end of 2018.

The Michigan Economic Activity Index consists of nine variables, as follows: nonfarm payroll employment, continuing claims for unemployment insurance, housing starts, house price index, industrial electricity sales, auto assemblies, total trade, hotel occupancy and sales tax revenue. All data are seasonally adjusted. Nominal values have been converted to constant dollar values. Index levels are expressed in terms of three-month moving averages.

Comerica Bank, with one of the largest banking center networks in Michigan, is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA), a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Michigan and Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, and Florida, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico.

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SOURCE Comerica Bank