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St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 26, No. 1, King Banaian, Mana Komai Molle

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

Area employment is expected to experience only a normal seasonal increase through mid-year. Survey results were slightly better than the most recent quarter. Significant pressures exist to increase wages, and in some cases firms did not think they could raise prices as well. Firms were evenly split between thinking affordable childcare and workforce housing were the most needed policies to address workforce needs.

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 25, No. 4, King Banaian, Mana Komai Molle

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

Businesses reported worsening economic conditions in the last three months of 2023, but expressed optimism for the first half of 2024. Over the year on a seasonal basis, only 135 jobs (0.1%) were added to the economy. Four of six regional economic indicators pointed down. Only 60% of businesses surveyed reported the same operating hours as they had had in 2020; half of the remaining 40% said their hours were more flexible, while the other half decreased hours of operation. They also said one third of customers now had higher expectations of firm performance than 2020. Improvements in speed and …

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 25, No. 3, King Banaian, Mana Komai Molle

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

Business leaders reported stronger local results in the last St. Cloud Quarterly Business Survey. 31% said their business activity expanded over the summer, while 24% said it had declined. Hiring improved, with continuing strength in wages paid, capital spending and prices received for products. The future outlook is much murkier, with 41% saying their business activity would expand over the next six months while 28% it would decline. Four of the six elements of the St. Cloud Index of Leading Economic Indicators rose in the May-July 2023 period while two others declined. Two special questions determined that employers think their …

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 25, No. 2, King Banaian, Mana Komai Molle

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

This report found confirmation from area business leaders that a recession is at hand. 68% of our respondents thought a recession was coming when surveyed in December 2022 and still believe so six months later. Survey respondents were concerned about financial tightening resulting from disruptions in the banking industry, but very few have changed banks, and most did not see those disruptions as a significant factor in bringing about a recession.

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 25, No. 1, King Banaian, Mana Komai

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

The St. Cloud Area recession that we predicted in last quarter’s review had not started in the first quarter of 2023. The St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Survey showed fewer respondents reporting a decrease in their own business activity over the last three months, and more were positive about the next six months, than had responded in November 2022. The St. Cloud Index of Leading Economic Indicators ticked up slightly in the last quarter, with only 3 of 6 indicators contributing positively to the index. In special questions, one-third of respondents said job turnover in 2022 was greater than in …

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 24, No. 2, King Banaian, Mana Komai

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

St. Cloud area unemployment reached its lowest point since measurement began in 1990, registering at 1.8% in April 2022. Area economic growth was very strong in the months leading out of the Omicron wave of the pandemic, with a majority of survey respondents reporting higher business activity in the February to April period. Over 70% reported paying higher wages and charging higher prices for their goods and services. 5 of 6 leading indicators were positive. In special questions, more than 70% of surveyed businesses did not lay off workers but of those that did a majority did not return many …

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 23, No. 4, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

The economic recovery from the unrelenting COVID shock continues in the St. Cloud area as firms report an optimistic future outlook and employment grows. However, underlying this optimism are increases in wages, prices, capital expenditures, and worker shortages that may prove unsustainable in a post-COVID economy. Strong future optimism by surveyed firms is restrained by the reality that monetary and fiscal stimulus is abating perhaps faster than the pandemic.

Data released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) indicate St. Cloud area employment increased 2% over the twelve months ending October 2021, but still 4,493 (4%) below …

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 23, No. 3, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

St. Cloud area economic recovery has begun as year-over-year regional employment has grown and surveyed local firms project strong business activity. While the pandemic appears to have created scars in the local economy that plague some of our local service sectors, many area firms continue to report challenges that are typically associated with rapid expansion—labor shortages, price increases, accelerating wage growth, etc. Data released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) indicate St. Cloud area employment increased 4.3 percent over the twelve months ending July 2021. However, employment in the Stearns-Benton Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is still …

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 23, No. 2, King Banaian, Richard Macdonald

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

The St. Cloud area economy is poised to exit recession as a variety of indicators suggest a broad-based recovery is on the horizon. While year-over-year data comparisons are now complicated by the historic decline in economic activity that occurred twelve months ago, there are signs that the pace of local economic activity continues to improve for many area firms. The pandemic has created scars in the local economy that will likely persist for months and years to come, but many area firms now seem to be experiencing challenges that are typically associated with rapid expansion—labor shortages, price increases, accelerating wage …

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 23, No. 1, King Banaian, Richard Macdonald

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

Revised data released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) indicate St. Cloud area employment declined 6.5 percent over the twelve months ending January 2021. Area employment was 7,097 lower than one year earlier as the local recession continues into its second year. The pandemic has adversely affected nearly all local sectors—only the local construction center has experienced job growth over the past year. Ninety percent of the impact was felt in approximately one-half of area employment. For example, employment in the local leisure & hospitality sector was one-third lower over the past twelve months and the …

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 22, No. 4, King Banaian, Richard Macdonald

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

The St. Cloud area economy remains in recession as the uneven effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to plague the local labor market. While some local sectors are experiencing uninterrupted strong growth, the virus’ impact on the leisure/hospitality and other services sectors is creating historic existential challenges for some area firms. Overall local employment was 3.4 percent lower in October 2020 than it was one year earlier, but this is a clear improvement from what was seen in the June St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report (at which time an 11.5 percent year-over-year decline in area employment was reported). The …

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 22, No. 3, King Banaian, Richard Macdonald

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

While some sectors of the local economy continue to be devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, many area firms are now beginning to recuperate from this spring’s shockwaves. Overall local employment was 3.1 percent lower in July 2020 than it was one year earlier, but this is a clear improvement from what was seen in last quarter’s St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report (at which time we reported an 11.5 percent year-over-year decline in area employment). In addition, published job losses in the Twin Cities (and across the state) are considerably worse than what is seen locally. For example, Twin Cities …

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 22, No. 2, King Banaian, Richard Macdonald

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

Events associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have driven the local economy into recession. As has been seen throughout the U.S. (and the world), the temporary closing of many area businesses has caused an economic shock that has torn through the entire economy. Nearly all data measures have turned south as the human toll of the coronavirus has extended beyond deaths and hospitalizations to unemployment, business closures, and uncertainty that spans virtually all sectors of the regional economy. St. Cloud area employment contracted 11.5 percent in April 2020 compared to one year earlier. All sectors of the local economy shed jobs, …

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report Vol. 20 No. 2, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

Despite heightened uncertainty from recent retail store closings, looming na­tional tariff policies and the future clo­sure of Electrolux, area firms continue to report strong optimism about future business activity. Area firms reported continuing difficulty attracting qualified workers, which appears to be restraining local employment growth. Local employ­ment grew at a tepid 0.4 percent rate over the year ending April 2018 as worker shortages limit firms' growth poten­tial. The manufacturing, education/health, wholesale trade, and transportation/warehousing/utilities sectors led local job growth, while the retail trade, mining/logging/construction, and leisure/hospitality sectors' employ­ment contracted.

A new St. Cloud Index of Leading Economic Indicators is unveiled …

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report Vol. 19, No. 4, King Banaian, Richard A. Macdonald

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report

St. Cloud-area businesses continue to experience steady growth, and the local six-month-ahead economic outlook remains strong. Payroll data indicates overall St. Cloud metropolitan area employment grew at a 1.6 percent annual rate over the year ending October 2017. The construction sector once again led local job growth, followed by strong gains in wholesale trade and the educational and health sector employment. The financial activities, information, government, transportation/warehousing/utilities and re­tail trade sectors all experienced year-over-year job losses. The leading economic indicator series declined slightly over the last quarter. Surveyed firms indicate strong busi­ness activity in the current quarter with higher capital …

Minnesota Housing Report [1990 4th Quarter], George R. Karvel Dr.

Minnesota Housing Reports

The Minnesota Housing Report is compiled on the basis of monthly housing reports furnished to the Minnesota Real Estate Research Center at St. Cloud State University. Funding to permit preparation of the Minnesota Housing Report is provided by the Educational Foundation of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS and St. Cloud State University.

The reports are supplied by fourteen cooperating local real estate boards representing 80 percent of Minnesota' s population. The boards represent various areas of the state and thus provide a picture of housing diversity between regions as well as housing trends within regions.

Information presented for the state …

Minnesota Housing Report [1990 3rd Quarter], George R. Karvel Dr.

Minnesota Housing Reports

The Minnesota Housing Report is compiled on the basis of monthly housing reports furnished to the Minnesota Real Estate Research Center at St. Cloud State University. Funding to permit preparation of the Minnesota Housing Report is provided by the Educational Foundation of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS and St. Cloud State University.

The reports are supplied by fourteen cooperating local real estate boards representing 80 percent of Minnesota' s population. The boards represent various areas of the state and thus provide a picture of housing diversity between regions as well as housing trends within regions.

Information presented for the state …

Minnesota Housing Report [1990 2nd Quarter], George R. Karvel Dr.

Minnesota Housing Reports

The Minnesota Housing Report is compiled on the basis of monthly housing reports furnished to the Minnesota Real Estate Research Center at St. Cloud State University. Funding to permit preparation of the Minnesota Housing Report is provided by the Educational Foundation of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS and St. Cloud State University.

The reports are supplied by fourteen cooperating local real estate boards representing 80 percent of Minnesota' s population. The boards represent various areas of the state and thus provide a picture of housing diversity between regions as well as housing trends within regions.

Information presented for the state …

Minnesota Housing Report [1990 1st Quarter], George R. Karvel Dr.

Minnesota Housing Reports

The Minnesota Housing Report is compiled on the basis of monthly housing reports furnished to the Minnesota Real Estate Research Center at St. Cloud State University. Funding to permit preparation of the Minnesota Housing Report is provided by the Educational Foundation of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS and St. Cloud State University.

The reports are supplied by fourteen cooperating local real estate boards representing 80 percent of Minnesota' s population. The boards represent various areas of the state and thus provide a picture of housing diversity between regions as well as housing trends within regions.

Information presented for the state …

Minnesota Housing Report [1989 4th Quarter], George R. Karvel Dr.

Minnesota Housing Reports

The Minnesota Housing Report is compiled on the basis of monthly housing reports furnished to the Minnesota Real Estate Research Center at St. Cloud State University. Funding to permit preparation of the Minnesota Housing Report is provided by the Educational Foundation of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS and St. Cloud State University.

The reports are supplied by fourteen cooperating local real estate boards representing 80 percent of Minnesota' s population. The boards represent various areas of the state and thus provide a picture of housing diversity between regions as well as housing trends within regions.

Information presented for the state …

Minnesota Housing Report [1989 3rd Quarter], George R. Karvel Dr.

Minnesota Housing Reports

The Minnesota Housing Report is compiled on the basis of monthly housing reports furnished to the Minnesota Real Estate Research Center at St. Cloud State University. Funding to permit preparation of the Minnesota Housing Report is provided by the Educational Foundation of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS and St. Cloud State University.

The reports are supplied by fourteen cooperating local real estate boards representing 80 percent of Minnesota' s population. The boards represent various areas of the state and thus provide a picture of housing diversity between regions as well as housing trends within regions.

Information presented for the state …

Minnesota Housing Report [1989 2nd Quarter], George R. Karvel Dr.

Minnesota Housing Reports

The Minnesota Housing Report is compiled on the basis of monthly housing reports furnished to the Minnesota Real Estate Research Center at St. Cloud State University. Funding to permit preparation of the Minnesota Housing Report is provided by the Educational Foundation of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS and St. Cloud State University.

The reports are supplied by fourteen cooperating local real estate boards representing 80 percent of Minnesota' s population. The boards represent various areas of the state and thus provide a picture of housing diversity between regions as well as housing trends within regions.

Information presented for the state …

Minnesota Housing Report [1989 1st Quarter], George R. Karvel Dr.

Minnesota Housing Reports

The Minnesota Housing Report is compiled on the basis of monthly housing reports furnished to the Minnesota Real Estate Research Center at St. Cloud State University. Funding to permit preparation of the Minnesota Housing Report is provided by the Educational Foundation of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS and St. Cloud State University.

The reports are supplied by fourteen cooperating local real estate boards representing 80 percent of Minnesota' s population. The boards represent various areas of the state and thus provide a picture of housing diversity between regions as well as housing trends within regions.

Information presented for the state …

Minnesota Housing Report [1988 4th Quarter], George R. Karvel Dr.

Minnesota Housing Reports

The Minnesota Housing Report is compiled on the basis of monthly housing reports furnished to the Minnesota Real Estate Research Center at St. Cloud State University. Funding to permit preparation of the Minnesota Housing Report is provided by the Educational Foundation of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS and St. Cloud State University.

The reports are supplied by fourteen cooperating local real estate boards representing 71.5 percent of Minnesota's population. The boards represent various areas of the state and thus provide a picture of housing diversity between regions as well as housing trends within regions.

Information presented for the state or …

Minnesota Housing Report [1988 3rd Quarter], George R. Karvel Dr.

Minnesota Housing Reports

The Minnesota Housing Report is compiled on the basis of monthly housing reports furnished to the Minnesota Real Estate Research Center at St. Cloud State University. Funding to permit preparation of the Minnesota Housing Report is provided by the Educational Foundation of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS and St. Cloud State University.

The reports are supplied by fourteen cooperating local real estate boards representing 71.5 percent of Minnesota's population. The boards represent various areas of the state and thus provide a picture of housing diversity between regions as well as housing trends within regions.

Information presented for the state or …

Minnesota Housing Report [1988 2nd Quarter], George R. Karvel Dr.

Minnesota Housing Reports

The Minnesota Housing Report is compiled on the basis of monthly housing reports furnished to the Minnesota Real Estate Research Center at St. Cloud State University. Funding to permit preparation of the Minnesota Housing Report is provided by the Educational Foundation of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS and St. Cloud State University.

The reports are supplied by fourteen cooperating local real estate boards representing 71.5 percent of Minnesota's population. The boards represent various areas of the state and thus provide a picture of housing diversity between regions as well as housing trends within regions.

Information presented for the state or …

Minnesota Housing Report [1988 1st Quarter], George R. Karvel Dr.

Minnesota Housing Reports

The Minnesota Housing Report is compiled on the basis of monthly housing reports furnished to the Minnesota Real Estate Research Center at St. Cloud State University. Funding to permit preparation of the Minnesota Housing Report is provided by the Educational Foundation of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS and St. Cloud State University.

The reports are supplied by fourteen cooperating local real estate boards representing 71.5 percent of Minnesota's population. The boards represent various areas of the state and thus provide a picture of housing diversity between regions as well as housing trends within regions.

Information presented for the state or …

Minnesota Housing Report [1987 4th Quarter], George R. Karvel Dr.

Minnesota Housing Reports

The Minnesota Housing Report is compiled on the basis of monthly housing reports furnished to the Minnesota Real Estate Research Center at St. Cloud State University. Funding to permit preparation of the Minnesota Housing Report is provided by the Educational Foundation of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS and St. Cloud State University.

The reports are supplied by fourteen cooperating local real estate boards representing 71.5 percent of Minnesota's population. The boards represent various areas of the state and thus provide a picture of housing diversity between regions as well as housing trends within regions.

Information presented for the state or …

Minnesota Housing Report [1987 3rd Quarter], George R. Karvel Dr.

Minnesota Housing Reports

The Minnesota Housing Report is compiled on the basis of monthly housing reports furnished to the Minnesota Real Estate Research Center at St. Cloud State University. Funding to permit preparation of the Minnesota Housing Report is provided by the Educational Foundation of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS and St. Cloud State University.

The reports are supplied by fourteen cooperating local real estate boards representing 71.5 percent of Minnesota's population. The boards represent various areas of the state and thus provide a picture of housing diversity between regions as well as housing trends within regions.

Information presented for the state or …

Minnesota Housing Report [1987 2nd Quarter], George R. Karvel Dr.

Minnesota Housing Reports

The Minnesota Housing Report is compiled on the basis of monthly housing reports furnished to the Minnesota Real Estate Research Center at St. Cloud State University. Funding to permit preparation of the Minnesota Housing Report is provided by the Educational Foundation of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS and St. Cloud State University.

The reports are supplied by fourteen cooperating local real estate boards representing 71.5 percent of Minnesota's population. The boards represent various areas of the state and thus provide a picture of housing diversity between regions as well as housing trends within regions.

Information presented for the state or …