Local governments across the country have come under increasing fiscal strain in recent years, with several being forced to declare bankruptcy. The problems range from pension programs and decaying infrastructure to falling revenues from industrial and sales taxes as manufacturing…
Recently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics published a map of industry sectors with the highest employment by state over the past couple of decades. The map shows clearly America’s shift from manufacturing to retail to healthcare. Retail trade has led…
During the past decade major changes in population growth patterns were evident in Virginia. In contrast to what happened in the early 2000s housing boom, when many counties on the edges of urban areas became some of the fastest growing in…
Pre-recession, the major narrative was that American households were spending too much and saving too little. Now, we’re saving again, and household debt burdens have declined to their lowest rates in over a decade. Well, pat ourselves on the back;…
Quinnipiac University released its latest poll of Virginia’s registered voters and the news is not good for Obama. Since 2011, Obama has led Romney in all trial heat match-ups that Quinnipiac released for the commonwealth, sometimes with leads well outside…
Employment rose nationwide in 2011, but the average weekly wage fell 1.7 percent according to data just released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only five periods have seen declining wages since the series began in 1978 and fourth Quarter…
The Pew Center on the States recently published an interactive graphic on job gains and losses among the states. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, they examine annual percent changes (April to April) in the number of employed persons in…
Quinnipiac University released it’s latest poll of Virginia’s registered voters with President Obama holding a 47 to 42 percent lead over Republican challenger Mitt Romney in a match-up. Obama has maintained a consistent lead over Romney in all Quinnipiac polls since…
In her post “How old is old? Is 80 the new 65?”, Susan discussed how increases in longevity have dramatically increased the typical years lived post-retirement. The average 65-year-old retiree is now expected to survive until age 84. These changes…
The Bureau of Labor Statistics release of 2011 annual averages of regional and state unemployment shows continued good economic news for both the nation and Virginia. Nationwide, unemployment rates dropped by 0.7% between 2010 and 2011. Virginia saw a similar…