Research

One of the features of fiscal policy initiatives is that they can be targeted to industries and geographic areas in greatest need.

Labor markets in the Western states are among those (a) hardest hit and (b) least affected by the current economic contraction, based on nonagricultural employment figures for January 2009, released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Achieving environmental sustainability for supply management is a goal which may also help boost firms' overall competitiveness in these fretful economic times.

Two indicators of the severity of the current recession, depth and duration, worsened in the past month. The depth of the decline in inflation-adjusted Gross Domestic Product in the fourth quarter of 2008 was revised by the U.S.

The world's two economic superpowers — the United States and China — face significant challenges as they confront the future possibilities of trade and a new world economic order.

Although nonresidential building held up longer than residential activity in the current recession, the nonresidential downturn now has started and is expected to continue into 2010. The timing of the rise and fall of these two construction categories differs.

All but three states reported losses in nonfarm employment in March 2009 compared to 12 months earlier, according to figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nationally, the economy lost 4.8 million jobs over-the-year in March, and payroll employment fell by 3.6 percent.

Phoenix metro real estate prices declined 37 percent in February compared to February 2008, but preliminary data for March and April show that the rate of decline may be slowing.

On May 20, the Economic Club of Phoenix presented its annual Economic Outlook Luncheon.

The U.S. unemployment rate went up again in June, rising to 9.5 percent (seasonally adjusted).