Compared to a year ago, jobs increased in 44 states, according to April figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of states adding jobs dipped from the 48 that posted employment gains in March.

With the absence of normal drivers of growth (consumers, construction, credit creation), economy watchers have become increasingly pessimistic. Based on employment gains so far this year, many analysts hoped to see a somewhat stronger figure than what the economy delivered for Q1 GDP growth.

The aerospace and defense industry is an established engine of growth in Arizona, contributing $8.8 billion to the state economy and providing almost 100,000 jobs.

The Economic Confidence Quiz has become a tradition at the annual mid-year Economic Outlook Luncheon hosted by the Economic Club of Phoenix. Here's your chance to test your economic acumen. How confident are you that you understand background facts on economic issues?

While the nation's economy showed some significant signs of life in the first half of 2011, the state's economy continues to bounce along the bottom.

When you compare employment numbers in February 2011 to February 2010, Arizona added 20,000 jobs in certain sectors that posted job growth.

Listen or read: The state received discouraging words recently about last year's employment numbers and about population growth over the last decade.Retail sales showed a glimmer of hope, however, and unemployment appears to be stabilizing. Economist Dennis Hoffman of the L.

In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, the main challenge facing the U.S. and its trading partners was a return to growth. After these economies improved in 2010, the outlook now for the main trading partners of the U.S.

Elinor Ostrom, the 2009 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, told the audience at the Economic Club of Phoenix Luncheon that there's ample evidence to prove that polycentric, or multilevel, approaches — even relatively easy fixes that can be implemented by local communities, busines

Annual employment revisions recently issued by the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics brought more bad news for the Arizona economy. Preliminary monthly job growth figures had previously indicated improving labor market conditions as the year ended.