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St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 17, No. 4, Richard A. Macdonald, King Banaian

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

No abstract provided.

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report Vol. 17, No. 3, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

No abstract provided.

Central Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - Second Quarter 2015, Richard A. Macdonald, King Banaian

Central Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Moderate economic growth in the Central Minnesota planning area is projected over the next several months according to predictions of the Central Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). After experiencing some weakness in the first part of the year, four of the five components of the LEI turned positive in the second quarter. The only negative component of the LEI is St. Cloud area residential building permits, which appear to have been underreported on the Bureau of the Census website over the past several months. Consequently, the Central Minnesota outlook is stronger than a pure reading of the LEI …

Northeast Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - Second Quarter 2015, Richard A. Macdonald, King Banaian

Northeast Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Business conditions in Northeast Minnesota are expected to improve over the next several months according to the predictions of the Northeast Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). Four of the five components of the LEI increased in this year’s second quarter as the overall index rose by 8.22 points. After being in negative territory for the previous two quarters, this quarter’s positive LEI reading is a welcome sign of future improvement in the Northeast Minnesota economy. A recent rise in initial jobless claims in the region was the only drag on the LEI in the second quarter. A rise …

Northwest Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - Second Quarter 2015, Richard A. Macdonald, King Banaian

Northwest Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Northwest Minnesota business conditions are expected to improve over the next several months according to the predictions of the St. Cloud State University (SCSU) Northwest Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). A stronger macroeconomic environment for rural America and rising consumer sentiment have contributed to a 2.06 point increase in the LEI. After two consecutive quarters of decline in the LEI, the Northwest Minnesota economy seems likely to grow more rapidly over the next several months. However, this part of the state is particularly vulnerable to weakness in the agriculture and energy sectors of the economy, so outside factors …

Southeast Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Reports - Second Quarter 2015, Richard A. Macdonald, King Banaian

Southeast Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Southeast Minnesota business conditions are expected to improve over the next several months according to the most recent prediction of the Southeast Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). All five LEI components were positive in the second quarter of 2015 as the index rose 9.88 points after recording a negative reading in this year’s first quarter. However, the LEI is still 4.8 percent lower than one year ago. A reduction in Southeast Minnesota initial jobless claims, recent improvement in the Minnesota Business Conditions Index (which serves as a general measure of state business conditions), higher new business filings, a …

Southwest Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - Second Quarter 2015, Richard A. Macdonald, King Banaian

Southwest Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Southwest Minnesota business conditions are expected to be steady over the next several months according to the predictions of the St. Cloud State University (SCSU) Southwest Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). An increase in Mankato area residential building permits in the first part of the year and an improvement in the rural outlook made positive contributions to the LEI in the second quarter. Higher initial jobless claims earlier in the year had a negative impact on the index. Also contributing unfavorably to this quarter’s LEI was weaker new business filings earlier this year. The LEI for the second …

Twin Cities Area Economic And Business Conditions Report - Second Quarter 2015, Richard A. Macdonald, King Banaian

Twin Cities Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

The Twin Cities economy is expected to experience stronger growth over the next several months according to the prediction of the Twin Cities Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). The Twin Cities LEI rose by 3.40 points in this year’s second quarter as three of the five index components increased. The LEI is now 6.2 percent below its level of one year ago. Accounting for the increase in the index are higher residential building permits in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), a rise in new business filings, and recent improvement in a general measure of statewide business conditions. …

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 17, No. 2, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

No abstract provided.

Central Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - First Quarter 2015, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

Central Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Central Minnesota business conditions are expected to soften over the next several months according to predictions of the Central Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). Four of the five components of the LEI turned negative in the first quarter with recent weakness in the St.Cloud area building permits driving the projected softening of the regional economy. Also causing a drag on the LEI is recent weakness in a general measure of state business conditions, higher initial jobless claims, and lower new business filing for incorporation at the end of last year. A fifth indicator--national durable goods orders--were largely neutral …

Central Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - Fourth Quarter 2014, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

Central Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Central Minnesota business conditions should remain strong through the first several months of 2015 according to predictions of the Central Minnesota Leading Economic Indicators Index. While three components of the index declined over the last three months of 2014, a strong reading on residential building permits helped propel the index to a 7.90 point gain in the last quarter of 2014. The index was 41 percent higher than one year earlier. A rise in national durable goods orders also contributed favorably to the outlook, while recent weakness in a general measure of state business conditions and a rise in jobless …

Northeast Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - First Quarter 2015, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

Northeast Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Business conditions in Northeast Minnesota are expected to soften over the next several months according to the predictions of the Northeast Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). Four of the five components of the LEI declined in this year’s first quarter as the overall index fell by 16.49 points. This marks two consecutive quarters in which the LEI has been in negative territory, suggesting slower future growth in the Northeast Minnesota planning area. Reduced initial jobless claims in the region are the one bright spot in this quarter’s index. A recent decline in residential building permits in the Duluth/Superior …

Northeast Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - Fourth Quarter 2014, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

Northeast Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Business conditions in Northeast Minnesota are expected to slow over the next several months according to a variety of economic indicators. The Northeast Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) fell by 1.47 points in the fourth quarter, although the level of the LEI is considerably above its 2013 value. An improvement in initial jobless claims and higher Duluth/Superior residential building permits contributed favorably to the LEI. Recent weakness in the Institute of Supply Management’s Purchasing Managers Index for manufacturing, slower new business incorporations earlier in 2014, and a deterioration in a general measure of state business conditions were negative …

Northwest Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - First Quarter 2015, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

Northwest Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Northwest Minnesota business conditions are expected to slow over the next several months according to the predictions of the St. Cloud State University (SCSU) Northwest Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). A weaker macroeconomic environment for rural America and softness in consumer sentiment have contributed to an 8.01 point decline in the LEI. With two consecutive quarters of decline in the LEI, the Northwest Minnesota economy seems likely to grow less rapidly over the next several months. While a sustained downturn in economic activity seems unlikely to hit this portion of the state, it is worth noting that weakness …

Northwest Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - Fourth Quarter 2014, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

Northwest Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Northwest Minnesota business conditions are expected to slow over the next several months according to the predictions of the St. Cloud State University (SCSU) Northwest Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). An improvement in consumer sentiment and a small gain in a general measure of rural economic health contributed favorably to the fourth quarter LEI. A fall in new incorporations and limited liability companies (LLCs) as well as recent increases in initial jobless claims and a decline in residential building permits earlier in 2014 in Northwest Minnesota’s metropolitan areas had a negative influence on the leading index. The SCSU …

Southeast Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - First Quarter 2015, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

Southeast Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

No abstract provided.

Southeast Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - Fourth Quarter 2014, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

Southeast Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Southeast Minnesota business conditions are expected to improve over the first several months of 2015 according to a variety of economic indicators. Driven by improvements in consumer sentiment and an increase in Rochester area residential building permits, the Southeast Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) increased by 3.49 points in the fourth quarter of 2014. The LEI is now 7.3 percent above its December 2013 value. A decline in new filings for business incorporation and limited liability company (LLC) combined with increased initial jobless claims earlier in 2014 were negative factors in the December 2014 LEI. A fall in …

Southwest Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - First Quarter 2015, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

Southwest Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Southwest Minnesota business conditions are expected to soften over the next several months according to the predictions of the St. Cloud State University (SCSU) Southwest Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). A decline in Mankato area residential building permits and last year’s weakness in new business filings helped push down the index in this year’s first three months. The LEI fell 22.22 points in the first quarter and is now 18.1 percent below its level one year ago. On a positive note, lower initial jobless claims in 2014 in the Southwest Minnesota planning area and a small improvement in …

Southwest Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - Fourth Quarter 2014, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

Southwest Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Southwest Minnesota business conditions are expected to slow over the next several months according to the predictions of the St. Cloud State University (SCSU) Southwest Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). An increase in initial jobless claims earlier in 2014 combined with weakness in the general outlook for rural economies helped push down the fourth quarter 2014 LEI for the Southwest Minnesota planning area. While there has been a recent increase in new business filings of business incorporation and limited liability company (LLC) and higher residential building permits in the Mankato area, these indicators were insufficient to push the …

Twin Cities Area Economic And Business Conditions Report - Fourth Quarter 2014, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

Twin Cities Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Twin Cities business conditions are expected to slow through the first several months of 2015 according to the predictions of the Twin Cities Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). The Twin Cities LEI declined by 7.58 points in the fourth quarter of 2014, as weakness in two general measures of statewide business conditions dragged down the index. Slower growth in new business filings also contributed to a weaker outlook. Lifting the index were reduced initial jobless claims in the Twin Cities as well as increased residential building permits in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Despite weakness in the final quarter …

Twin Cities Area Economic And Business Conditions Report - First Quarter 2015, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

Twin Cities Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

The Twin Cities economy is expected to grow more slowly over the next several months according to the prediction of the Twin Cities Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). The Twin Cities LEI fell by 5.23 points in this year’s first quarter as three of the five index components declined. The LEI is now 4.1 percent below its level of one year ago. Accounting for the decline in the index are lower residential building permits in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), higher initial jobless claims at the end of last year, and recent weakness in a general measure …

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 17, No. 1, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

No abstract provided.

Central Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - Third Quarter 2014, Richard A. Macdonald, King Banaian

Central Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Various indicators suggest Central Minnesota business conditions will remain solid over the next several months. While the Central Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) declined slightly in the third quarter, the abundance of regional evidence points to continued economic strength. Making positive contributions to the LEI were new filings of incorporation in Central Minnesota, increased residential building permits in St. Cloud, and a rise in national durable goods orders. Recent weakness in a general measure of state business conditions and a rise in jobless claims had a negative effect on the LEI.

There were 1,217 new business filings with …

Northeast Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - Third Quarter 2014, Richard A. Macdonald, King Banaian

Northeast Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Business conditions in Northeast Minnesota are expected to remain steady over the next several months according to a variety of economic indicators. Despite a decline in the Northeast Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) in the third quarter, the level of the LEI is considerably above its 2013 value. An increase in new filings for business incorporation in Northeast Minnesota, a rise in a supply managers’ survey index, and an improvement in initial jobless claims contributed favorably to the LEI. Recent weakness in Duluth-Superior Area (MSA) residential building permits and a decline in a general measure of state business …

Southwest Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - Third Quarter 2014, Richard A. Macdonald, King Banaian

Southwest Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Southwest Minnesota business conditions are expected to slow over the next several months according to the predictions of the St. Cloud State University (SCSU) Southwest Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). A recent decline in jobless claims in Southwest Minnesota was the only LEI component with a favorable outlook. Pushing down the regional index was weakness in the general outlook for rural economies and a decrease in Mankato area residential building permits. The SCSU Southwest Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators decreased by 4.16 points in the third quarter of 2014 and is now 1.4 percent lower than one …

Twin Cities Area Economic And Business Conditions Report - Third Quarter 2014, Richard A. Macdonald, King Banaian

Twin Cities Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Twin Cities business conditions are expected to remain solid over the next several months according to a variety of economic indicators. Despite a small decline in the Twin Cities Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) in the third quarter, the LEI is well above its 2013 level. Improvements in single-family building permits and a decline in initial jobless claims have had a positive impact on this quarter’s LEI, while recent weakness in both new business formation and in a general measure of statewide business conditions has had a negative influence on the index. The Twin Cities LEI fell by 0.92 …

Northwest Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - Third Quarter 2014, Richard A. Macdonald, King Banaian

Northwest Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Northwest Minnesota business conditions are expected to improve over the next several months according to the predictions of the St. Cloud State University (SCSU) Northwest Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI). While the macroeconomic environment for rural America seems to have weakened in the third quarter, improvements in consumer sentiment, a rise in new incorporations and limited liability companies (LLCs), and reduced initial jobless claims have strengthened the LEI in recent months. The SCSU Northwest Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators increased 1.46 points in the third quarter and it now stands 2.5 percent above its level one year …

Southeast Minnesota Economic And Business Conditions Report - Third Quarter 2014, Richard A. Macdonald, King Banaian

Southeast Minnesota Economic and Business Conditions Report

Southeast Minnesota business conditions are expected to remain steady over the next several months according to a variety of economic indicators. Despite a small decline in the Southeast Minnesota Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) in the third quarter, the level of the LEI is well above its 2013 value. Improvements in consumer sentiment and lower initial jobless claims had a positive impact on this quarter’s LEI, while a slowing of the growth of new filings for business incorporation and limited liability company (LLC), a fall in the Minnesota Business Conditions index, and declining Rochester metropolitan area residential building permits …