The Compass Report is the only independent economic analysis of Arkansas’ top four metro areas (Central Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas, Fort Smith region, and the Jonesboro region). The report measures four leading and four current economic indicators to provide a grade for a regional economy.
A key factor in understanding The Compass is in understanding the “grading” approach used to measure the current and leading economic indicators. The strategy is to place the most recent data in historical context. Average values for the percent change over the referenced time period were calculated, as were standard deviations for each measure.
by - April 2, 2014 3:28 pm
The 5th annual The Compass Conference will be held April 17 and will feature an update on economic conditions – based on data from The Compass Report – in the…
by - December 19, 2013 2:35 pm
The 2013 third quarter economy in the central Arkansas area received a grade of C- meaning that economic conditions declined slightly compared to the third quarter of 2012 but were…
by - December 19, 2013 2:30 pm
Economic conditions for the Northwest Arkansas economy were stronger in the third quarter than in the previous three quarters, with employment and building permit numbers leading the way. The third…
by - December 19, 2013 2:22 pm
Slight but continued improvements in economic trends for the Fort Smith region during the third quarter of 2013 has resulted in the best quarterly grade for the economy since the…
by - September 18, 2013 2:34 pm
The 2013 second quarter economy in the central Arkansas area received a grade of C- meaning that economic conditions declined slightly compared to the second quarter of 2012 but were…
by - September 18, 2013 2:20 pm
Economic conditions remained positive in Northwest Arkansas during the second quarter of 2013, and are stronger than the second quarter of 2012 thanks to continued gains in employment and building…
by - September 18, 2013 1:29 pm
Improvements in the number of employed and gains in building permit values in the Fort Smith region helped boost the economy in the second quarter of 2013 compared to the…
by - July 3, 2013 1:36 pm
The combination of a 0.23% gain in the Fort Smith regional workforce number and a 5.3% increase in the number of area unemployed pushed the regional jobless rate higher in…
by - June 20, 2013 10:18 am
First quarter 2013 economic conditions in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway (central Arkansas) metro area were down slightly compared to the first quarter of 2012. The quarter saw gains in…
by - June 20, 2013 10:12 am
Economic conditions in Northwest Arkansas have been strong for several quarters, and the first quarter 2013 economy improved compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. The first quarter 2013 grade…
by - June 20, 2013 10:05 am
The Fort Smith regional economy ended 2012 on a positive note, but first quarter 2013 conditions did not continue the trend, according to data collected for The Compass Report. First…
by - June 17, 2013 4:36 pm
The value of building permits in Fort Smith, Greenwood and Van Buren were a combined $34.602 million in May. The figure is up significantly from last month, with $18.35 million…
by - June 13, 2013 2:26 pm
With not as many service points as other regional airports, the severe weather during May was a cause in Fort Smith Regional Airport traffic declining almost 3% in May. Traffic…
by - April 12, 2013 11:30 am
Fourth quarter 2012 economic conditions in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway (central Arkansas) metro area were down slightly compared to the fourth quarter of 2011. The quarter saw gains in…
by - April 12, 2013 11:23 am
Economic conditions in Northwest Arkansas remain robust, with regional growth similar to that of the fourth quarter of 2011, but slightly less than in the third quarter of 2012, according…
by - April 12, 2013 11:16 am
From a purely analytical standpoint, the Fort Smith region ended 2012 on a positive note. Fourth quarter 2012 economic conditions were improved compared to the 2011 period, with gains in…
by - April 1, 2013 9:00 pm
A review of economic conditions and the potential to move closer to U.S. energy independence with more use of natural gas are the planned highlights of the 2013 The Compass…
by - December 5, 2012 1:13 pm
Third quarter 2012 economic conditions in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway (central Arkansas) metro area saw limited gains in economic conditions compared to the third quarter of 2011. The quarter…
by - December 5, 2012 1:05 pm
Third quarter 2012 economic conditions in the Northwest Arkansas metro area were improved compared to the third quarter of 2011. Ongoing job growth and consistent gains in area sales tax…
by - December 5, 2012 12:52 pm
Third quarter 2012 economic conditions were not improved compared to the 2011 period, with the number of unemployed in the region weighing negatively on the regional economy. The third quarter…
