DALLAS, Sept. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Bank's Texas Economic Activity Index decreased 0.1 points in July to 135.9. July's index reading is 40 points, or 42 percent, above the index cyclical low of 95.5. The index averaged 128.5 points for all of 2017, 3.9 points above the average for 2016. June's index reading was revised to 136.0.

The Comerica Bank Texas Economic Activity Index eased by just 0.1 percent in July, essentially unchanged from June. This breaks a three-month winning streak. We expect the Texas Index to return to growth very soon. Over the 12 months ending in July, the Texas Index is up 5.8 percent, consistent with strong real GDP growth for the state during this time span. In July, five out of nine index components were positive. They were nonfarm payrolls, unemployment insurance claims (inverted), housing starts, industrial electricity demand and total state trade. House prices, drilling rig count, hotel occupancy and sales tax revenues were negatives in July. Firmer oil prices in late 2018 and a strong U.S. economy will support an ongoing robust expansion for Texas. Also, the recently completed U.S. trade deal with Mexico removes some uncertainty for Texas businesses. The trade deal remains to be ratified by both countries and may eventually include Canada. Job growth for Texas ticked up this year. Through August, the state has averaged 34,000 net new jobs per month this year, well above the average of 21,000 net new jobs per month for all of 2017. For the first eight months of 2018, the entire U.S. has averaged 208,000 net new jobs per month, so roughly 1 out of every 6 new jobs in the U.S. this year was generated in Texas.

The Texas 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, Texas rotary rig count, total trade, hotel occupancy and sales tax revenue. All data are seasonally adjusted. Nominal values have been converted to constant dollar values. Total index levels are expressed in terms of three-month moving averages.

Comerica Bank is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE:CMA), the largest U.S. commercial bank headquartered in Texas, 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 a local banking center network throughout Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Kerrville, Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico.

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