Tom’s Blog On Markets & Investments

I like to keep track of the economic and business trends locally.  Local and metropolitan statistical area data tends to lag national data by about a month.  So, when national data for April is reported, local data for March is being reported.

• Surprisingly, the Kansas City MSA unemployment rate actually downticked 0.2% in March.
• The respite in unemployment increase didn’t last long, however.  July, 2009 unemployment came in at 8.9%, after readings of 8.7% and 8.6% in June and May, respectively.  But KC is still below the national average.
• Financial Services Employment in the MSA declined in 2007, well ahead of the national trend, and has been growing on a year over year basis for most of 2008 and into 2009
• Privately Owned Housing Starts (shown here on a log scale) peaked at just over 1, 404 in March, 2005.  Over the last 5 years, housing starts in the MSA have averaged about 665 per month.  Over the last 10 years they have averaged about 770 per month.  March, 2009 starts came it at a low, low 115.