INDICATORS POINT TO ROBUST MISSOURI ECONOMY

In the aftermath of last year's flooding, Missourians held their collective breath in anticipation of how the state's economy would rebound. Numbers released last week indicate it has done alright, thank you. We see this as a positive sign for Missouri. The economy shows evidence of strong growth following a period when high water might have put confidence in the state at a low point.

The Missouri treasurer's office said Friday that general revenue receipts for the just-ended fiscal year were up 5.43 percent from the previous year. In all, the receipts totaled $242.3 million higher than the previous period.

Other indicators of economic growth showed similar increases. Missouri sales tax receipts for the fiscal year, which ended Thursday, were up 8.02 percent from the previous year, while individual income tax collections topped the 1993 totals by 6.2 percent.

While this accounting bodes well for Missouri, Cape Girardeau County boasts even more impressive numbers. Last month, the county auditor reported an 11.2 percent increase in sales tax collections above the same six-month period the previous year. In fact, the June check (the second highest ever for the county) was 13.4 percent higher than that of the previous June.

A state's economic well-being can't be gauged the way points are added to a scoreboard. Instead, it is measured against the rise and fall of indicators that supply a generally reliable view. All indicators point to a Missouri economy that is robust, one that recovered nicely from the devastating floods of last summer. We are heartened by signs of the state's economic good health.