economy
Newsmakers Breakfast Jan. 23 focuses on 2025 economic outlook
Jackie Benson, economist Jan. 14. How will tariffs affect the economy in 2025? How will immigration policy affect North Carolina? What about interest rates? The effects of Hurricane Helene? Economist Jackie Benson, with Wells Fargo’s Corporate and Investment Bank, will address a variety of issues during a Newsmakers Breakfast Jan. 23 at The Peninsula Club. […]
Business commentary: What does it take to get ahead?
Jan. 13. By Mike Walden. [Commentary] The older I get, the more I seem to think about my past, especially my parents. Both were high school dropouts, but they were able to provide for their family and lead successful lives. Sure, there were ups and downs, such as when my father’s small business went bankrupt […]
Jobless rates increased in 85 NC counties in November
Jan. 7. Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 85 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in November 2024, decreased in 12, and remained unchanged in three. Mitchell County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.9 percent while Orange and Currituck Counties each had the lowest at 2.9 percent. Mecklenburg County’s unemployment rate was 3.4 percent […]
You decide: Will prices decline?
Dec. 3. By Mike Walden. [Analysis] During the presidential campaign, both major candidates promised to lower prices if elected. Now that the election is over, will President-elect Trump be able to fulfill that promise? Background Before I address the question, let me remind you of some important terminology. There is a big difference between “inflation […]
NC unemployment rate at 3.8%
Sept. 26. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August was 3.8 percent, increasing 0.1 of a percentage point from July’s revised rate, according to the NC Dept. of Commerce. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.2 percent. The state unemployment rate was up 0.3 of a percentage point from a […]
You Decide: Can the President control the economy?
Sept. 9. By Mike Walden [Opinion] With the presidential campaigns in full force, one question people are asking is if a president can control the economy. In fact, I’ve had this question put to me by both the media and attendees at meetings. In the type of economy we have — a market economy — […]
Did COVID permanently change the labor market?
July 26. By Mike Walden. [Analysis] I doubt that anyone alive during the COVID pandemic will forget it. Many of us are reminded of it every day. Certainly, many remember being ill, or mourn friends or family who passed due to the disease. We still see people wearing masks, and this time of year we’re […]
Mortgage delinquencies are increasing
May 23. With the rate of mortgage delinquency rising in all 50 states, a new WalletHub study says North Carolina ranks sixth among the states where mortgage delinquency is increasing the most. From the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024, delinquencies in North Carolina rose 18.49 percent. The smallest increase was […]
Analysis: Why jobs are increasing
April 22. By Mike Walden. The American job market just seems to keep rolling on. The recently released March labor market report showing 300,000 net additional jobs in the country was significantly above economists’ expectations. Employers seem to be ignoring concerns about high interest rates, continuing inflation, recession, foreign wars and domestic political uncertainty, and […]
NC jobless rate was 3.5% in March
April 22. The NC Dept. of Commerce says North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March was 3.5 percent, unchanged from February’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.8 percent. However, the state’s unemployment rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people […]
