More people will lose their jobs at a Nebraska City plant, after cutting 42 positions back in December. The Elster American Meter Plant is announcing another 50 people will be layed off.

About 580 workers will remain at the plant. The company says the downsizing is necessary because of declining sales of its natural-gas meters, despite national signs taht the housing slump is improving.

Elster senior vice president Bill Whitesel said Tuesday, the market for its products was not rebounding as fast as the company had hoped.

Whitesel said the laid-off workers could be recalled if business were to pick back up.