OMAHA, Neb. - A survey of business executives in nine Midwestern and Plains states suggests their state economies are humming right along.

A report released Thursday says the Mid-American Business Conditions Index rose in April to 55.5 from 54.3 in March.

Any score greater than 50 on the index, which ranges between 0 and 100, indicates an expanding economy over the next three to six months.

Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss oversees the report.

He says the region's economies are outperforming the rest of the nation. He credits the very strong farm income and biofuels production and fewer problems with housing.

The states are Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.