A survey of supply managers by Creighton University showed that an index of Kansas business conditions increased in February to 54.1 from 48.3 in January. A number over 50 indicates expansion.

Components of the index were: new orders, 57.2; production or sales, 56.2; delivery lead time, 50.5; employment, 49.7; inventories, 56.7.

“The state’s unemployment rate has declined by a full percentage point over the past year,” said survey author and Creighton professor Ernie Goss, in a statement. “However during this same period of time, Kansas has lost more than 7,000 jobs and approximately 22,000 workers left the state’s labor market. Our surveys over the past several months point to sluggish, but positive business and job growth for the next three to six months,”

The Kansas results are part of survey of companies in a nine-state region.