St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 19, No. 1

Authors

King Banaian, St. Cloud State UniversityFollow
Richard A. MacDonald, St. Cloud State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Research Study

Publication Date

3-19-2017

Abstract

St. Cloud-area businesses report a strong future outlook as the area continues to experience solid economic performance. Revised payroll data indicates St. Cloud metropolitan area employment grew at a 1.3 percent annual rate over the year ending January 2017. This is more rapid than the average annual job growth rate of 0.8 percentage point observed since 2002. The construction sector led the way with double-digit growth, followed by strong gains in the wholesale trade and educational/health sectors. The leisure/hospitality and transportation/warehousing/utilities sectors were a drag on the overall employment numbers. The leading economic indicator series rose by 0.11 of a percentage point in the last quarter. Surveyed firms were considerably more optimistic about future business activity than they were one year ago. An improvement in national business activity, rising employment and accelerating wages were expected over the next six months.

Special Questions:

1. Expected impact of new administration's policies.
2. Future Gas Prices

Comments

Originally published as a supplement to the Sunday edition of the St. Cloud Times newspaper on 19 March 2017.

Recommended Citation

Banaian, King and MacDonald, Richard A., "St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, Vol. 19, No. 1" (2017). St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report. 73.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/scqbr/73