June 4, 2008Roanoke's per capita income loses groundDo you feel like your dollar doesn't go as far as it used it? You're not alone. Economic figures released this spring by the federal government show Roanoke's per-capita personal income rising slower than others in the country. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average personal income of those in the Roanoke metropolitan statistical area rose, on average, 4.3 percent a year from 1996-2006 to $33,693. It's now ranks 133rd of the nation's 363 MSAs. The national average is $36,714. In 1996, Roanoke's per capital personal income was $22,998, ranking it 125th. The national average rose more than 5 percent a year over the sane time. Slow and steady growth, Roanoke's economy continues to show. Does that concern you at all? June 3, 2008Region’s unemployment fell in AprilHere is some information appearing in Wednesday's business section: Unemployment rates across the region and state dropped dramatically in April, according to figures recently released from the Virginia Employment Commission. May 2, 2008Local unemployment up in MarchA timing oddity, the March employment figures were released this week from the state of Virginia, just as the numbers nationwide were reported for April. The state's unemployment rose to 3.9 percent in March, up from 3.8 percent in February and 2.9 percent last March, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. State officials blamed the rise of the past year (which amounts to nearly 41,000 more unemployed statewide) to a drop in construction employment because of a slow housing market and labor unrest at Midwest factories that led to local layoffs at suppliers. The strike at the Volvo plant in Dublin did not affect the results, as state law prevents unemployment benefits going to striking workers. Locally, unemployment in the Roanoke metro rose to 4 percent (from 3.9 in February and 3.0 in March 2007). A similar increase took place in the Christiansburg-Blacksburg-Radford metro, where unemployment rose to 4.5 percent (from 4.4 in February and 3.9 last March). |
About this blog
As the U.S. economy struggles to find its footing -- and experts debate daily whether or not we are in a recession, heading toward a recession or neither -- business editor Chris Winston writes this blog to provide local, state and national information to help you make heads or tails of the headlines. .....Advertisement.....
|
...Advertisement...
...Advertisement...
