North Carolina’s economy remained on a steady upward trend in February, according to a monthly index compiled by N.C. State economics professor Michael Walden. The index rose 0.9 percent from January. The index measures leading state economic indicators, such as manufacturing employment hours and wages, residential building permits and initial jobless claims. The data is seasonally adjusted. It also includes the Economic Cycle Research Institute’s weekly leading index data. The index is up 2.1 percent year over year at just more than a 100 score. It is at its highest level since May 2014.