The Mid-America Business Conditions index released Thursday dropped to 46.5 last month from 50.4 in September. A score below 50 on a scale of 0 to 100 suggests decline. The overall index figure was 49.7 in August, 48.7 in July and 57.2 in June. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says "growth in the regional economy is definitely moving lower." The survey covers nine Midwest and Plains states, including Nebraska.