Consumer Confidence Up in June, Highest Level Since Pandemic
US. consumer confidence rose again for the fifth consecutive month in June. This puts at the highest levels seen since the start of the pandemic and comes as a sign…
Arkansas Tourism Expected To Get Boost By Reopening Of Clinton Presidential Library
One of Central Arkansas' top tourist destinations, the Clinton Presidential Center, plans to reopen for the first time in over a year, giving officials hope that tourism in the region…
More restaurants have their Restaurant Revitalization Fund awards rescinded
Another group of restaurant owners were informed this week that their Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) award grants were rescinded amid court judgments that found that the way the U.S. Small…
Typical american now hiring sign in black letters over the white background with local small business building
More Arkansans Are Seeking Jobs Before Latest Benefits Cuts
Original article from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette here. In May, Gov. Asa Hutchins announced Arkansas will stop offering federal dollars as unemployment benefits and will begin pushing that money back…
U.S. New Home Sales Drop 5.9% in May, Second Monthly Decline
The sale of new homes fell in May by 5.9%, larger than economists anticipated. The median price of a new home sold in May rose to $374,400, up 18.1% from…
FAA Says U.S. Airports Will Get $8B in Pandemic Relief
The Federal Aviation Administration will be issuing $8 billion in federal grants to airports to aid in recover from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Most of this money is to go to…
Hot Springs tourism sets new record with spending up 138% from 2020
Tourism in Hot springs, Arkansas has broken a record with hospitality tax showing a 138% increase in spending in restaurants, hotels and AirBnBs. National parks also recorder record numbers of…
Another jump in prices tightens the squeeze on US consumers
Original Article from APNews.com here. The May rise in consumer prices that the Labor Department reported Thursday reflected a range of goods and services now in growing demand as people…
Tourism to Buffalo National River creates $66 million in economic benefits
An economic study conducted by the National Park Service and the U.S. Geological Survey analyzed consumer spending of national park visitors in 2020. The study found that the Buffalo National…
U.S. Retail Sales Rose 0.6% in June
Americans spent more last month on clothing, electronics and dining out as the economy opened up and pandemic-related restrictions were lifted. Retail sales rose a seasonal adjusted 0.6% in June…
Arkansas Unemployment Rate Unchanged for 3rd Month
Arkansas' unemployment rate remained unchanged for the third month in a row, at 4.4% from May to June, according to a report released Friday by the state Division of Workforce Services. The…
Arkansas unemployment stays at 4.4% for May
The state’s unemployment rates stay below the national rate of 5.8% in May. This comes as an improvement from Arkansas’s rate last year of 8.5% at the beginning of the…
What economic impact could Juneteenth as a federal holiday have on Arkansas?
Despite its celebration for several years, no data has been collected on the economic impacts in Arkansas of federalizing Juneteenth. Juneteenth was celebrated as a national holiday for the first…
Jobs rebounding quickly, Young says
After the pandemic, employment has rebounded locally almost to 2019 levels, Mark Young, president and CEO of the Northeast Arkansas Industrial Development Corporation, said. The city is providing NAIDC with…
UAMS chancellor says COVID-19 is ‘at best, smoldering’ in Arkansas
UAMS chancellor says COVID-19 is 'at best, smoldering' in Arkansas Though many feel the pandemic is lifting, top state health officials are raising concerns. The Chancellor of UAMS described COVID-19…
UA, NOWDiagnostics Partner for COVID-19 Study
The University of Arkansas and NOWDiagnostics Inc. of Springdale announced a partnership Tuesday to study the prevalence of coronavirus antibodies among UA students, staff and faculty. The company will use…
U.S. Home Construction Up Moderate 3.6% in May
U.S. home construction rose 3.6% in May as builders battled a surge in lumber prices that have made homes more expensive. The May increase left construction at a seasonally adjusted…
Fed Sees Faster Time Frame for Rate Hikes As Inflation Rises
The Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday that it may act sooner than previously planned to start dialing back the low-interest rate policies that have helped fuel a swift rebound from the…
UAMS Receives $1.4M Grant to Study COVID-19 Disparities
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences researchers have been awarded a one-year, $1.4 million grant to study the causes behind COVID-19’s devastating impact on minorities and develop plans to help…
Mark Hayes Knows Tech a Two-Way Street for Cities
Mark Hayes joined the Arkansas Municipal League in 1989 as an in-house litigator before becoming the league’s general counsel. He was appointed executive director of the organization in 2018. Before joining…