by Michael Pakko | Oct 14, 2021
The annual data on state-level Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) were published last week by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The data for Arkansas reaffirm our observation that Arkansas consumers maintained relatively high levels of spending during the depths...
by Michael Pakko | Sep 21, 2021
Arkansas Retail Sales increased by 2.5% in June, remaining well above spending levels of a year earlier and well above pre-pandemic levels as well. Total Retail Trade and Food Service sales were up 13.0% from June 2020 and up 27.1% from the 2019:H2 average. The data...
by Michael Pakko | Aug 31, 2021
Arkansas Retail Sales declined slightly for a second month in May, but remained well above levels of a year ago or before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Total Retail and Food Services Sales were down 3%, following a 3.4% decline in April. The two monthly...
by Michael Pakko | Apr 12, 2021
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic we haven’t been tracking home sales on a regular basis, but housing markets have been following a roller-coaster ride along with every other sector of the economy. Housing Market Reports from the Arkansas Realtors®...
by Michael Pakko | Mar 26, 2021
Arkansas labor market conditions changed little in February. The unemployment rate ticked down by 0.1 percentage point to 4.5%, but both the household and payroll data showed declines in total employment. One year after the pre-COVID-19 business cycle peak,...
by Michael Pakko | Feb 26, 2021
Of all the sectors of the economy that have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, industries in the Leisure and Hospitality category have been among the hardest-hit. These industries continue to show persistent declines in sales and employment, with many...
