Economist: State recovery slow, but faster than peers
Chief regional economist Jim Diffley of IHS Global Insight says Indiana has grown faster than other manufacturing-heavy Midwestern states.
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Jobless rate rises to 9.8 percent as U.S. job growth slows
With hiring so weak, the unemployment rate rose from 9.6 percent to 9.8 percent. The jobless rate has now topped 9 percent for 19 straight months, the longest stretch on record.
Indianapolis banker sees progress, challenges at ailing Integra
Mike Alley, perhaps more than any other banker in the state, is experiencing the pain the economic crisis has wrought on the nation’s financial institutions.
Jobless claims tick up again
Difficulties adjusting for the Thanksgiving holiday contributed to last week’s spike in new applications, a government analyst said. The four-week moving average of claims, which smooths volatility, fell to 431,000 last week, a two-year low.
Jobless claims drop sharply
A Labor Department analyst said weekly claims are volatile during the week between the Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving holidays. A key question is whether claims will remain this low in future weeks.
State’s unemployment rate drops below 10 percent
Indiana’s unemployment rate in October dipped to 9.9 percent, marking the first time the rate has been below double digits since March.
The root of Indiana’s myriad problems
Longtime economist Morton Marcus says the objective truth is that Indiana is in decline. He also insists the solution is a change in the culture, not just job creation.
A historian muses on the American character and the debt crisis
Indiana University’s James Madison is “marginally optimistic” Americans have the fortitude to tackle what could grow to become an emergency ranking with the Civil War, the Great Depression and World War II.
Jobless claims fall sharply to 4-month low
The U.S. Labor Department said Wednesday that initial claims for jobless aid dropped by 24,000, to a seasonally adjusted 435,000. Many Wall Street economists expected a smaller decrease.
Employers add jobs, but rate sticks at 9.6 percent
U.S. employers added the most jobs in five months in October, with the education and health care sectors leading the way.
Weak employment report expected Friday
Newly elected members of Congress will get a reminder Friday of the economic challenges they face in January: The jobs report for October is expected to show hiring weak and unemployment still high. The outlook for 2011 isn't much better.
IU economists: Slow growth expected in 2011
Economic growth will remain sluggish into next year as companies remain hesitant to add jobs, Indiana University economists said Thursday morning during their annual forecast.
Elections encourage an arch-conservative
Bill Styring, whose long, wonkish career includes analyzing health reform for Mike Pence, cried last night.
September consumer spending weakens while incomes dip
Americans slowed their spending in September to the weakest pace in three months and their incomes fell for the first time in 14 months.
U.S. economy grew anemically in third quarter
The government reported Friday morning that the economy expanded at a 2-percent annual rate in the July-September quarter. It marked a slight improvement from the feeble 1.7-percent growth in the April-June quarter.
State’s jobless rate dips slightly to 10.1 percent
Indiana’s unemployment rate in September was 0.1 percentage point lower than in August and the same as it was the same month last year. But it remains above the national rate of 9.6 percent.
MORRIS: Not all economic news is bad news
If we listen too much to the financial channels, it will make us want to bury our money in a hole in the yard and get a Rottweiler to guard it.
National jobless claims fall, but still elevated
Fewer people applied for unemployment benefits last week, but the drop wasn't enough to reverse a big increase the previous week.
Banks tread water as they wait for economy to improve
Banking experts say the health of Indiana institutions is taking baby steps forward along with the tepid economic recovery. But in these times, recovery looks grimmer than one might expect.
Strategist: U.S. economy picking up pace, slowly
The economy is picking up its pace but not quickly enough to satisfy the public, Fifth Third Bank strategist John Augustine said Friday. It may not return to pre-recession levels until 2017.