Professional services and manufacturing are leading growth in the Houston economy. The energy sector is expanding at an accelerated pace, leading to strong export growth. Lending at local banks has been outpacing the state and the nation. Healthy gains in the Houston Leading Index and the Houston Business-Cycle Index suggest a continued positive outlook. Growth in the Houston Business-Cycle Index was 6.2 percent in the three months ending in May 2018—well above its longer-run average of 3.2 percent (Chart 1). The index has been growing at an accelerated rate since November 2017 due to the effects of a growing energy ... (full story)