Pogue: Northwest Arkansas Needs Innovation Push
by Marty Cook – 1 week ago
Northwest Arkansas has an enviable history of entrepreneurial success, but the region will have to embrace changes for continued long-term growth.
Trends & Analysis
In Little Rock, Fed Economist Says Trade Policy A 'Shock' to U.S. Economy
14 hours ago
Trade policy has been a “shock” to the economy, and uncertainty over it is rising sharply, Kevin Kliesen of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis said Thursday at the Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing.
Abernathy: Workforce Improvement the Key to Growing Business in Arkansas
1 week ago
Arkansas must improve its workforce because a skilled labor pool attracts economic development projects, Ted Abernathy said at the annual Arkansas State Chamber/Associated Industries of Arkansas.
The Appearance Of Wealth (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)
I feel compelled to make this point every year or two, since it is the most important lesson I've learned from two decades as your business editor: Wealth and the appearance of wealth are two different things. read more >
U.S. Wealth Distribution Measured by Percentile Group
In the second quarter of 2019, Americans held $107.13 trillion in total wealth, with sharp distinctions based on the wealth percentile in which they find themselves. read more >
Radical Ideas for 2020 (Barry Goldberg On Leadership)
Normally, as we approach year-end, I look for emerging ideas, books or other resources for organizational leaders. Most of those ideas are practical, if a little bit of a stretch. read more >
Economy Top Concern in UA's 21st Arkansas Poll
The economy is the top concern for Arkansans, and most support gun licensing and background checks for gun purchases, according to the 21st annual Arkansas Poll released Wednesday by the University of Arkansas. read more >
US Job Openings Decline in September Though Remain Healthy
U.S. employers advertised fewer open jobs in September compared with the previous month, but the number of available positions remains high by historic standards. read more >
Our Techno Life (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)
Every technological advance comes with some unintended consequences. read more >
Health Insurance Coverage Declines in 2018
The number of people in the United States lacking health insurance rose in 2018, the first increase in a decade. read more >
Uncertainty May Save Money (Craig Douglass On Consumers)
Consumers continually look for convenience and time-savings. Add discounting, and if sales did not grow, a lack of confidence would be replaced by outright fear, and a total lack of economic backbone. read more >
Survey Suggests Slight Rebound in Midwest Economic Growth
An October survey of business supply managers suggests a bump occurred in economic growth for nine Midwest and Plains states, according to a report released Friday. read more >
US Added A Solid 128K Jobs in October Despite GM Strike
U.S. employers added a solid 128,000 jobs in October, a figure that was held down by a now-settled strike against General Motors that caused several thousand workers to be temporarily counted as unemployed. read more >
ADP: US Businesses Added Slight 125K Jobs in October
U.S. businesses added a mere 125,000 jobs in October, a slowdown in hiring driven in part by job cuts in manufacturing and construction. read more >
US Economy Grows at Modest 1.9% Rate in 3Q
The U.S. economy slowed to a modest growth rate of 1.9% in the summer as consumer spending downshifted and businesses continued to trim their investments in response to trade war uncertainty and a weakening global economy. read more >
US Consumer Confidence Falls for Third Consecutive Month
U.S. consumer confidence fell for a third consecutive month in October as optimism about job prospects and business conditions down the road grew weaker. read more >
Survey: US Business Hiring Falls to 7-Year Low
A measure of hiring by U.S. companies has fallen to a seven-year low and fewer employers are raising pay, a business survey has found. read more >
Follow The Money (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)
Following the money explains the opioid crisis and explains why it has been allowed to continue. read more >
Arkansas Farmland Values Rise 5.1%
The value of farm real estate in Arkansas rose 5.1% this year compared with 2018, to $3,320 per acre, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. read more >
Close the Sales-Marketing Gap in 2020 (Jim Karrh On Marketing)
The divide between sales and marketing — including both the people involved and their activities — has seemingly been around since the Hatfields and McCoys began feuding. read more >
US Mortgage Rates Rise to 3-Month High
U.S. long-term mortgage rates rose slightly this week to their highest point in 12 weeks, though they remain far below their levels of a year ago. read more >
Asian Businesses Association to Host U.S.-China Trade Workshop
The Arkansas Association of Asian Businesses will host a workshop on the U.S.-China trade dispute and its effect on the Arkansas economy on Nov. 7 in Little Rock. read more >
High Prices Drove US Home Sales Down 2.2% in September
U.S. home sales fell 2.2% in September, as rising home prices and lower inventories have stifled homebuyers. read more >
Report: Women Company Owners Say They're Not Taken Seriously
Women business owners can find it hard to be taken seriously even as their companies grow into multimillion-dollar enterprises. read more >
Learning From What 'She Said' (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)
Success, especially financial success, seems to embolden some men. read more >
U.S. Household Debt Reaches $13.67 Trillion
Household debt in the United States rose for the 19th straight quarter, reaching $13.67 trillion as of March 31. It's now 7.8% or $993 billion higher than the previous peak of $12.68 trillion, reached in the third quarter of 2008. read more >
Arkansas' Jobless Rate Rose to 3.5% in September
Arkansas' seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point, from 3.4 percent in August to 3.5 percent in September, the state Division of Workforce Services reports. read more >
Clean, Renewable Energy Fosters Economic Development (Commentary)
Enthusiasm is high for solar power, with new financing options and opportunity zones, featured in recent announcements, news headlines and public dialogue. But one solution worth pursuing would combine all three while facilitating economic growth in struggling areas. read more >
Fed's 'Beige Book' Survey Finds US Economy Hurt by Trade Battles
The U.S. economy was expanding at a modest pace in September and into October despite the fact manufacturing was being hurt by rising trade tensions and weaker global growth while adverse weather was affecting farmers. read more >
US Retail Sales Dip 0.3% in September
Retail sales dropped in September by the largest amount in seven months, possibly signaling that rising trade tensions and turbulent markets are having an impact on consumer spending. read more >
Total Charitable Giving in the U.S. Declines
An estimated $427.7 billion was donated to charities in the United States last year, a drop of 1.7% after adjusting for inflation, according to Giving USA 2019: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2018. read more >
So Many Podcasts, So Little Time (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)
The podcasting universe keeps expanding, and keeping my podcast subscriptions curated is as hard as limiting my purchases at a Trader Joe's. read more >
But We've Got Our Health (Craig Douglass On Consumers)
As many know, the pre-op regimen can be extensive. It includes purchasing several pieces of medical equipment to aid in the prevention of possible post-op problems. But where surgery is concerned, some preventive measures before and after surgery are not covered by insurance. Curious. read more >
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