Dee Shore

Apr 22, 2013

Who pays the highest tax rates?

People recently completed their income taxes, and many probably wondered whether they pay more or less on a percentage basis than their neighbors. Do we have any data on who actually pays the highest rates? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden answers. 

Apr 19, 2013

Gains in income

Income growth is one of the most watched economic statistics. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains what recently released income growth statistics for 2012 showed for North Carolina. 

Apr 18, 2013

Ag continues to grow in North Carolina

Agriculture and agribusiness — food, fiber, and forestry — continue to grow in North Carolina, according to a new study from N.C. State University. 

Apr 18, 2013

Fastest-growing jobs

Everyone wants to know where the new jobs will be in the future. Every couple of years, economists with the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics try to answer that question with new forecasts of job growth. N.C. State University economist outlines what the bureau says will be the most rapidly increasing occupations. 

Apr 17, 2013

The timing of economic statistics

It’s been said that during the entire decade of the 2000s, North Carolina did not create a single job. Is this accurate? Or is it a creative use of statistics? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

Apr 16, 2013

Budget factors

The battles over the federal budget continue. When someone looks at trends in the federal budget and tries to evaluate changes, what kinds of considerations are important? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

Apr 15, 2013

Why are stocks high with jobs low?

The stock market has skyrocketed this year to new highs, but the job market still faces challenges. Is the trend in the stock market an example of Wall Street ignoring the problems on Main Street? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden answers. 

Apr 12, 2013

Factory boost

Manufacturing was hard hit during the recession, but there is evidence of a rebound over the past couple of years. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden gives a status report on the condition of manufacturing. 

Apr 11, 2013

Reforming unemployment assistance

The government provided an unprecedented amount of assistance to unemployed workers during the recession. As a result, there’s been talk about changing the system, perhaps by reducing the number of weeks an unemployed person can receive cash help. Have economists thought about some other approaches? N.C. State University’s Mike Walden responds. 

Apr 10, 2013

An important job statistic

We’re bombarded daily by new economic statistics. Indeed, N.C. State University economist Mike Walden has been touting a sometimes overlooked jobs number that some say is signaling a positive outlook.