New Census Bureau population data show that Minnesota’s population grew by just 225 people in 2021. One particularly alarming aspect of this was a loss of 13,453 residents to other…
Demography is destiny. In the past year, the population of the entire United States grew by only 393,000, at the slowest rate ever recorded. But the growth (and shrinkage) was…
It may well be the last Christmas shopping season for some businesses on South Hennepin Avenue if the city of Minneapolis follows through on plans to eliminate parking for customers…
The American Rescue Plan, enacted in March 2021, extended previous measures that expanded eligibility for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits to workers who are typically ineligible for state UI programs (Pandemic…
‘Minnesota job growth outpaces US, unemployment at 3.3%‘ – Duluth News Tribune ‘Jobless rate in Minn. hits pre-pandemic level‘ – MPR News ‘Minnesota jobless rate falls to 3.3%, lowest since…
State and local taxes and spending The Globe: Nobles County works to reduce tax burden; eyes 4.988% property tax levy increase Duluth News Tribune: Feeding frenzy follows news of state…
Minnesota’s rate returns to pre-pandemic level, but lags neighboring states. In data released for November, Nebraska again recorded the nation’s lowest unemployment rate since record-keeping began in 1976, at 1.8…
After enacting one of the strictest measures of rent control in the nation, St. Paul is set to make a significant investment in affordable housing. As reported by the Star…
Economic growth Star Tribune: Supply chain trouble takes big bite out of Minnesota’s small food producers Minn Post: Long-term thinking is they key to Minnesota’s economic prosperity KPVI: Minnesota is…
Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that inflation rose by 6.9 percent in the year to November. This is the fastest annual rate of increase since June 1982. You’d…
Minnesota’s record-breaking budget surplus has induced mixed reactions from state leaders. But among those celebrating the surplus as a testament to our growing economy and effective handling of COVID-19 is…
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its inflation numbers for November this morning and they did not make for happy reading over breakfast. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose…
Today, the Bureau of Economic Analysis released data for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Minnesota’s counties for 2020. We now have this data going back to 2001, so we can…
In early November, residents of St. Paul and Minneapolis chose to approve rent control ballot measures. Unlike Minneapolis, St. Paul’s ballot measure already included a specific proposal that caps annual…
Last week, I recounted the Biden administration’s shifting stance on inflation, from ‘non-existent’ through ‘good thing’ to ‘conspiracy by evil businesses.’ The pivot away from celebrating inflation as sign of…
Economic growth Fox 9: Inflation eats up most of Minnesota workers’ wage gains Grand Rapids Herald Review: Minnesota ranked 48th in economic freedom index, last in Midwest Star Tribune: Minnesota’s…
The Biden administration has a shifting stance on inflation, from ‘non-existent’ through ‘good thing’ to ‘conspiracy by evil businesses’. The pivot away from celebrating inflation as a sign of economic…
As you’ve filled your tank recently, you might have seen one of those stickers of President Biden pointing to the price, saying “I did that”. Time was when this joke…
Back in July, President Biden said that “no serious economist” was worried about “unchecked inflation.” In October, with inflation still stubbornly high and rising, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki…
Back in July, I had a column in the Duluth News Tribune about how federal government tariffs on Canadian lumber would serve to make housing less affordable. I noted that…
One of the most important things to remember in economics is that prices aren’t problems; they are signals, telling you what is going on with the demand and supply of…
State and local taxes and spending Star Tribune: Minnesota’s economic forecast coming after higher-than-predicted tax collections The Neighbor: New Minnesota budget expands low-cost child care Fox 9: Gov. Walz announces…
In addition to paying more for Thanksgiving food, Americans will have a harder time finding products. According to the Wallstreet Journal, Supplies of food and household items are 4% to…
Xcel Energy, Minnesota’s largest electric utility company, claimed in 2010 that it expected electricity prices for customers to remain “well below” the national average through 2025. Xcel made this prediction…