The first quarter of the year’s economic report is three points ahead of this time last year. According to the Iowa Business Council’s (IBC) Overall Economic Outlook Survey Index is 65 for the first quarter of 2015. This is the same result as last quarter.

The survey is completed by the corporate members of the council in late February. A majority of IBC members expect to sustain or increase sales and employment over the next six months, with capital spending plans dipping slightly for the state’s largest employers.