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Arkansas Business

Trends & Analysis


US Jobless Claims Plunge, Lowest Since Pandemic

US Jobless Claims Plunge, Lowest Since Pandemic

by Christopher Rugaber, The Associated Press – 2 days ago

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits tumbled last week to 576,000, a post-COVID low and a hopeful sign that layoffs are easing as the economy recovers from the pandemic recession.

$1,400 Stimulus Checks Helped March Retail Sales Soar 9.8%

$1,400 Stimulus Checks Helped March Retail Sales Soar 9.8%
2 days ago

Newly vaccinated and armed with $1,400 stimulus checks, Americans went on a spending spree last month, buying new clothes and going out to eat again.

Fed Survey: Economy Rebounding, Helped by Stimulus, Vaccines

Fed Survey: Economy Rebounding, Helped by Stimulus, Vaccines
3 days ago

A Federal Reserve survey finds that the economy rebounding in late February through early April, helped by billions of dollars in a new round of stimulus payments and the stepped-up rollout of coronavirus vaccines.


State Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.4% in March

State Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.4% in March

4/16/2021 10:25 am

Arkansas' unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point, from 4.5% in February to 4.4% in March, the state Division of Workforce Services said Friday. read more >

Fed Leaders Agree: Economics Has A Racial-Disparity Problem

Fed Leaders Agree: Economics Has A Racial-Disparity Problem

4/13/2021 05:34 pm
Banking & Finance

Top Federal Reserve policymakers underscore their concern that Black and Hispanic people are sharply underrepresented in the economics field, which lessens the perspectives that economists can bring to key policy issues. read more >

Consumer Prices Jump 0.6% in March, Biggest Gain Since 2012

Consumer Prices Jump 0.6% in March, Biggest Gain Since 2012

4/13/2021 09:20 am

U.S. consumer prices increased a sharp 0.6% in March, the biggest uptick since 2012, while inflation over the past year jumped 2.6%. read more >

The Dream That Just Won't Die (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)

The Dream That Just Won't Die (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)

4/12/2021 12:00 am
OpinionHealth CareEditor's Note

Despite improvements like family coverage for adult children and guaranteed coverage for pre-existing conditions, our country's patchwork of insurance coverage is still threadbare in spots. read more >

Word-of-Mouth, Post-Pandemic (Jim Karrh On Marketing)

Word-of-Mouth, Post-Pandemic (Jim Karrh On Marketing)

4/12/2021 12:00 am
OpinionHealth CareTechnology & Telecom

It makes sense to examine whether the nature of word-of-mouth has been altered after most mouths have been behind masks during the past 12 months. read more >

Single-Family Residential Construction Soars

Single-Family Residential Construction Soars

4/12/2021 12:00 am
Banking & Finance

The residential construction market in the Little Rock area boomed last year despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with the number of new single-family housing units permitted hitting their highest level since 2007, at more than 1,500. read more >

US Jobless Claims Up to 744K as Virus Still Forces Layoffs

US Jobless Claims Up to 744K as Virus Still Forces Layoffs

4/8/2021 09:24 am
Restaurants & Food

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week to 744,000, signaling that many employers are still cutting jobs even as more people are vaccinated against COVID-19. read more >

Freedom of Information (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)

Freedom of Information (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)

4/5/2021 12:00 am
OpinionHealth CareLegalRestaurants & FoodEditor's Note

If the cost of performing FOIA requests is burdensome, the answer is to come up with the money, not to keep chipping away at the public's right to know. read more >

What's In The $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Package?

What's In The $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Package?

4/5/2021 12:00 am
Banking & FinanceHealth Care

The American Rescue Plan of 2021 seeks to help the United States recover from the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. read more >

Arkansas Experience, National Influence (Craig Douglass On Consumers)

Arkansas Experience, National Influence (Craig Douglass On Consumers)

4/5/2021 12:00 am
Opinion

With his faith kept and his finish of a race well run, on March 1, Vernon Jordan has received exemplary eulogies, warm remembrances and laurels for his life, respect and admiration. read more >

Toward More Diverse Bank Leadership (Jim Cargill Commentary)

Toward More Diverse Bank Leadership (Jim Cargill Commentary)

4/5/2021 12:00 am
OpinionBanking & Finance

If we serve our communities — all parts of our communities — then we must bring more women, more people of color and more diverse people into positions of leadership. read more >

Report: Arkansas Tax Collections Above Forecast in March

Report: Arkansas Tax Collections Above Forecast in March

4/2/2021 11:28 am

The state Department of Finance and Administration says that March net available general revenue was $372.9 million, $16.3 million above March 2020 and $20.8 million — or 5.9% — above forecast. read more >

U.S. Adds Robust 916K Jobs in March As Hiring Surges

U.S. Adds Robust 916K Jobs in March As Hiring Surges

4/2/2021 07:32 am

America's employers unleashed a burst of hiring in March, adding 916,000 jobs in a sign that a sustained recovery from the pandemic recession is taking hold as vaccinations accelerate, stimulus checks flow and businesses reopen. read more >

Survey: Strong Economic Growth Continues in the Region

Survey: Strong Economic Growth Continues in the Region

4/1/2021 01:24 pm

Strong economic growth is expected to continue in nine states over the next few months as businesses continue to recover from the pandemic, a new survey of business leaders says. read more >

Consumer Confidence Surges in March to Highest Point in Year

Consumer Confidence Surges in March to Highest Point in Year

3/30/2021 09:32 am
Restaurants & Food

U.S. consumer confidence surged in March to the highest reading in a year, helped by increased vaccinations and more government economic support. read more >

The U.S. Economy… and Changing Occupations

The U.S. Economy… and Changing Occupations

3/29/2021 12:00 am
Banking & FinanceHealth CareLegalRestaurants & FoodTechnology & TelecomTransportation

The COVID-19 pandemic drove down employment and pushed the U.S. economy into recession a year ago, and now many unemployed Americans are considering changing occupations, according to the Pew Research Center. read more >

Land of Opportunity (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)

Land of Opportunity (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)

3/29/2021 12:00 am
OpinionEditor's Note

The perfect candidate on paper can let you down, and the riskiest hires can sometimes deliver the biggest rewards. read more >

Here Comes the Sun, and the Solar Testimonials

Here Comes the Sun, and the Solar Testimonials

3/26/2021 11:33 am
Restaurants & Food

Batesville Schools Superintendent Michael Hester told of solar energy savings from an Entegrity-built system that funded raises of at least $4,000 a year for the nearly 250 teachers on his payroll. read more >

Arkansas' Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.5% in February

Arkansas' Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.5% in February

3/26/2021 10:18 am
Banking & FinanceHealth CareRestaurants & Food

The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services says Arkansas' unemployment rate decreased one‐tenth of a percentage point, from 4.6% in January to 4.5% in February. read more >

Report: Little Rock's 2020 A&P Tax Collections Down 19%

Report: Little Rock's 2020 A&P Tax Collections Down 19%

3/25/2021 11:04 am

Officials at the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau expected 2020 to be a record-setting tourism and tax collection year, but the COVID-19 pandemic got in the way, according to the CVB's annual report. read more >

Orders for Manufactured Goods Tumbled 1.1% Last Month

Orders for Manufactured Goods Tumbled 1.1% Last Month

3/24/2021 09:21 am

Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods slumped 1.1% in February with demand in a key sector that tracks business investment also dropping. read more >

Sales of New Homes Plunged 18.2% in February

Sales of New Homes Plunged 18.2% in February

3/23/2021 10:17 am
Banking & Finance

Sales of new homes plunged 18.2% in February as severe winter weather in many parts of the country and a lack of supply took a toll on the housing industry. read more >

Existing US Home Sales Fell in February, While Prices Rose

Existing US Home Sales Fell in February, While Prices Rose

3/22/2021 12:18 pm

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes slowed last month as rising prices and a dearth of homes for sale kept some would-be buyers on the sidelines. read more >

Survey: Business Economists Favor Increased Federal Spending

Survey: Business Economists Favor Increased Federal Spending

3/22/2021 06:58 am

A majority of business economists think the recovering economy will benefit from much more government spending despite concerns in financial markets that the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief measure Congress recently enacted could ignite inflation. read more >

A Virtuous Cycle (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)

A Virtuous Cycle (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)

3/22/2021 12:00 am
OpinionBanking & FinanceHealth CareTechnology & TelecomEditor's Note

Recent days have underscored that there are really two American economies. As the Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 33,000 for the first time, Congress is experimenting with direct cash infusions to reduce child poverty. read more >

Cleaning the Data in Data-Driven Decisions (Barry Goldberg On Leadership)

Cleaning the Data in Data-Driven Decisions (Barry Goldberg On Leadership)

3/22/2021 12:00 am
Opinion

Decision-making (like pretty much everything else) has become more complex, nuanced and more turbulent than it was 13 months ago. read more >

Mortgage Refinancing Hits $2.6 Trillion in 2020

Mortgage Refinancing Hits $2.6 Trillion in 2020

3/22/2021 12:00 am
Banking & Finance

Mortgage rates hit historical lows last year, sending the level of mortgage refinancing activity in the United States to its highest annual total since 2003, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. read more >

Powell: US Economy Gaining, But Recovery 'Far From Complete'

Powell: US Economy Gaining, But Recovery 'Far From Complete'

3/19/2021 11:46 am
Banking & Finance

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated his belief that while the U.S. economy has been steadily rebounding from the devastation caused by the pandemic recession, the recovery is far from complete and needs continued support from the Fed. read more >

US Jobless Claims Rise to 770K with Layoffs Still High

US Jobless Claims Rise to 770K with Layoffs Still High

3/18/2021 09:00 am

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose last week to 770,000, a sign that layoffs remain high even as much of the U.S. economy is steadily recovering from the coronavirus recession. read more >

Hot Housing Market Fuels Rise in Homeowners' Equity

Hot Housing Market Fuels Rise in Homeowners' Equity

3/18/2021 08:56 am

The red-hot U.S. housing market is paying off for many homeowners, even those who aren't looking to sell their home. read more >

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Editors' Picks
Construction
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts On Target for May 2022 Open
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts On Target for May 2022 Open

Northwest Arkansas
Musselman Gets New, $20M Deal From UA
Musselman Gets New, $20M Deal From UA

Government & Politics
Sarah Sanders Raises Nearly $5M for Governor's Race
Sarah Sanders Raises Nearly $5M for Governor's Race

Cover Story
Windgate Fuels Boom In Building for the Arts This article is available only in print.
Windgate Fuels Boom In Building for the Arts

Spotlight
New North Little Rock Justice Center Gets Roadside Home
New North Little Rock Justice Center Gets Roadside Home

Health Care
Unity Health Invests $16M in Jacksonville
Unity Health Invests $16M in Jacksonville

Whispers
Holliday Bankruptcy Sale Nets $782,000 This article is available only in print.
Holliday Bankruptcy Sale Nets $782,000

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Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts On Target for May 2022 Open

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