A state official is predicting slower economic growth in Central Minnesota this year. Secretary of State Steve Simon is using the 2015 fourth quarter Economic and Business Conditions Reports to predict how Minnesota’s economy will grow in the first half of 2016.

When Simon looked at Central Minnesota Leading Economic Indicators he noticed it fell 2.7 points and is now 9.84 percent below where it was a year ago. There were 1,329 new businesses in Central Minnesota reported in 2015. Finally the employment rate has increased by 2.5 percent since the end of last year, now more than 9,000 more residents have jobs in Central Minnesota.

These reports were developed by the St. Cloud State University School of Public Affairs Research Institute along with the Secretary of State’s office. The reports are based on a comprehensive examination of several factors that can affect the standings of the economy.