US Home Construction Slips 0.9% to 1.25M in June
U.S. home construction slipped last month as an uptick in the building of single-family homes was offset by a big drop in apartment construction. read more >
Tagged: Trends
US Retail Sales Rise 0.4% in June in Sign of Consumer Health
U.S. retail sales rose at a solid pace last month, providing crucial support to the economy at a time when other drivers of growth have faded. read more >
Number of Community Banks Drops Sharply
The number of banks in the United States fell by almost 50% during the last 20 years, from about 10,700 in 1997 to about 5,600 in 2017, with the vast majority of the decline, 97%, accounted for by community banks. read more >
US Consumer Prices Rise Just 0.1% as Inflation Stays Tame
U.S. consumer prices rose just 0.1% in June, as cheaper gas prices were offset by higher rents and auto costs. read more >
Manufacturing Employment in Arkansas Hits 163,000
Manufacturing employment in Arkansas stood at 163,000 workers in May 2019, far below its peak in the 1990s but higher than the trough experienced in the aftermath of the Great Recession. read more >
Where People Found Jobs: Business Services and Health Care
Job growth strengthened in nearly all major industry sectors in June, with notable jumps in government, business services, education and health. read more >
US Employers Added 224K Jobs in June; Unemployment Rate Up Slightly to 3.7%
U.S. employers sharply stepped up their hiring in June, adding a robust 224,000 jobs, an indication of the economy's durability after more than a decade of expansion. read more >
Ozone Action Days: It's Good Business (Tab Townsell Commentary)
For "Telecommute Month," Metroplan highlights the health and financial benefits of a growing workplace trend. read more >
Arkansas Ends Fiscal Year with $295M Budget Surplus
Arkansas ended its fiscal year with a $295 million budget surplus and nearly $74 million of that is going toward highway needs, state finance officials said Tuesday. read more >
US Construction Spending Falls 0.8% in May
Spending on U.S. construction projects fell in May, the first drop in six months, as home building fell for a fifth straight month. read more >
Survey Suggests Midwest Economic Growth Will Continue
A new report says a June survey of business supply managers suggests economic growth will continue over the next three to six months in nine Midwest and Plains states. read more >
Transportation Equipment Top Export for Arkansas
Transportation equipment accounted for nearly $2 billion in exports in 2017, according to World Trade Center Arkansas. read more >
Celebrating Consumer Independence (Craig Douglass On Consumers)
During this Fourth of July celebratory week, consumers across America will be exercising their independence in the marketplace. We may shop, but we may not. Either way, we will salute in some manner the notion of consumer independence. read more >
US New-Home Sales Fell 7.8% in May
Sales of new U.S. homes slumped 7.8% in May, as sales plunged in the pricier Northeastern and Western markets. read more >
Supreme Court Strikes Morality Standard for Trademarks (Mark Henry and Hannah Hungate Commentary)
The U.S. Supreme Court makes a big change to trademark law, striking down a provision that precluded federal registration of trademarks that "consists of or comprises immoral, deceptive or scandalous matter." Here's a brief explanation of the history and process behind this decision. read more >
In Arkansas and Elsewhere, GOP Creates Hurdles for Citizen Ballot Initiatives
Lawmakers in 16 states introduced more than 120 bills this year that would weaken the initiative process. The moves worry advocates who say they undermine the idea of direct democracy and could effectively shut down the initiative process in some states. read more >
Insured Losses from U.S. Catastrophes Total $52B
Insured losses stemming from natural disasters in the United States in 2018 totaled $52.3 billion, down from $78 billion in 2017. read more >
Arkansas Unemployment Unchanged at 3.6% in May
Arkansas' unemployment rate in May, at 3.6%, was unchanged from the previous month. read more >
US Home Sales Climbed 2.5% in May Amid Lower Mortgage Rates
U.S. home sales jumped 2.5% in May, as lower mortgage rates appeared to help buyers overcome affordability challenges. read more >
Fed Leaves Key Rate Unchanged but Hints of Future Cuts
The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday but signaled that it's prepared to start cutting rates if needed to protect the U.S. economy from trade conflicts and other threats. read more >
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