Spring momentum is clearly taking hold across Buffalo County, with most key indicators pointing in a positive direction as we move deeper into 2026. While no single data point tells the full story, the overall picture is one of steady growth, sustained consumer activity, and continued confidence in our local economy.
Labor force growth remains a quiet strength.
With the workforce up 0.7% year-over-year, Buffalo County continues to make incremental gains in labor force participation. That may seem modest, but in a tight labor market, any expansion matters. It signals that we are not only retaining residents but continuing to attract or re-engage workers—an essential ingredient for supporting business growth and future development.
At the same time, unemployment ticked up slightly to 2.8%, compared to 2.7% a year ago. This is still historically low and consistent with a healthy labor market. Minor fluctuations at this level are not cause for concern and often reflect more people actively entering the workforce.
Consumer activity remains strong.
Retail sales climbed to over $76 million in February, a solid increase from last year. This suggests continued consumer confidence and spending power despite broader economic uncertainty at the national level. Buffalo County’s role as a regional retail hub continues to show up in these numbers.
Vehicle sales, however, were slightly down year-over-year, coming in just under $12 million. This aligns with broader trends where higher interest rates and financing costs are softening large discretionary purchases. Still, sales remain at a relatively strong level historically.
Tourism and visitation continue to build.
Enplanements at Kearney Regional Airport showed strong year-over-year growth in April, with trailing 12-month totals now exceeding 25,000 passengers. That’s one of the clearest signals we have that regional connectivity is improving and that both business and leisure travel demand are strengthening.
It’s worth noting that the Chicago route was introduced late in April, so its full impact won’t show up until future reports. I would expect or at least hope to see a lift in total enplanements in the June data as a result. That said, it will be interesting to see how the additional service balances with existing routes—particularly whether some demand shifts away from Denver over time.
Lodging tax collections reinforce this upward trend. Both March and year-to-date totals are ahead of last year, indicating more overnight stays and sustained visitor activity. As we move into peak travel season, this is an encouraging indicator for our hospitality sector and the broader local economy.
Development activity is accelerating.
Building permits are one of the more forward-looking indicators, and April showed a strong increase over last year with 18 total permits issued. More importantly, the rolling 12-month total climbed to 181 permits—well above the prior year.
The mix of permits is also notable, with 110, 21 new commercial projects, and 50 commercial remodels/additions.
This balance tells an important story. We are not only adding new housing (which remains a critical need) but also seeing sustained reinvestment in existing commercial properties alongside new builds. That combination signals confidence from both developers and existing businesses.
Bottom line:
Buffalo County continues to demonstrate resilience and steady growth across multiple fronts. Workforce participation is inching upward, consumer spending remains strong, visitation is improving, and development activity is gaining momentum.
While there are still headwinds—particularly around housing development and large-ticket consumer spending—the fundamentals of our local economy remain solid. As we move into the summer months, the question will be whether this momentum can continue to build, particularly in housing development and workforce expansion, where long-term growth depends on sustained progress.
.png)