The final reading from the from the University of Illinois' Flash Index supports a description of "slow and steady" for the Illinois economy in 2017.
The December Flash Index measured 104-point-one, down one tenth of a percent from November. Anything over 100 indicates a growing economy.
U of I Economist Fred Giertz says the Illinois economy is growing at a slower rate than the national economy. And he thinks the state's unsettled politics and finances held back economic growth in 2017.
"The bad news is it could have been a lot better and the good news is it could have been a lot worse. So, I think we're moving along all right and maybe things will start growing faster in the New Year."
Giertz says there could be a slight uptick in unemployment in January due to seasonal jobs from December ending.
The Flash Index is based on the weighted average of Illinois corporate, income and sales tax receipts.
