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 - September 21, 2023 6:31 pm
Continued job growth and broad gains in sales tax revenue indicate resilient and healthy economies in Arkansas’ four top metro areas, according to the second quarter 2023 The Compass Report….
by - June 13, 2023 4:36 pm
Arkansas’ four top metro areas are healthy with “robust” and “stable” job growth a common factor in the regions, according to the first quarter 2023 The Compass Report. Job numbers…
by - December 14, 2017 9:33 am
Editor’s note: Because of circumstances beyond our control, we did not produce The Compass Report for the first quarter of 2017. We apologize for any inconvenience. ––––––––––––––––––– Arkansas’ economy remained…
by - June 29, 2017 5:04 pm
Northwest Arkansas and the Jonesboro metros again set new records for employment in May, and the Texarkana (Ark.-Texas) metro area was the only metro area in or connected to Arkansas…
by - May 22, 2017 5:37 pm
Economic conditions in four Arkansas metro areas were mixed in the final quarter of 2016, with the Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith metros ending the year on a positive note…
by - January 3, 2017 4:15 pm
Economic conditions in four Arkansas metro areas remained solid in the third quarter of 2016, with the only negative being slower rates of growth in central and Northwest Arkansas. Compared…
by - October 10, 2016 6:08 am
The second quarter economic story of Arkansas’ four key metro areas was much like the first quarter story: unchanged from the previous quarter, but healthy, with continued job gains and…
by - August 3, 2016 1:03 pm
Editor’s note: This story is a component of The Compass Report. The quarterly Compass Report is managed by Talk Business & Politics, and sponsored by Lowell-based Zero Mountain Logistics, a…
by - July 25, 2016 1:23 pm
Jonesboro’s metro economy began 2016 on a solid note, especially in terms of jobs and sales tax growth, according to The Compass Report. Lower unemployment numbers, job creation, sales and…
by - July 20, 2016 7:02 pm
The overall health of four key Arkansas metro areas was relatively unchanged but strong in the first quarter of 2016, with the regions posting impressive job gains and increased construction…
by - June 1, 2016 11:56 am
Editor’s note: This story is a component of The Compass Report. The quarterly Compass Report is managed by Talk Business & Politics, and sponsored by Lowell-based Zero Mountain Logistics, a…
by - April 20, 2016 10:38 am
Most key economic indicators in Arkansas’ three largest metro areas – central Arkansas, Fort Smith metro, and Northwest Arkansas – were moving in the right direction during the fourth quarter…
by - March 2, 2016 4:46 pm
Arkansas’ real gross domestic product (GDP) output in the third quarter ranked 33rd among the 50 states as the state’s economy produced more than $123 billion in economic activity at…
by - February 23, 2016 12:16 pm
Editor’s note: This story is a component of The Compass Report. The quarterly Compass Report is managed by Talk Business & Politics, and sponsored by Arvest Bank. Supporting sponsors of…
by - February 18, 2016 5:32 pm
Job growth and gains in sales tax revenue in Northwest Arkansas and the central Arkansas metro areas continued into the third quarter of 2015, according to The Compass Report. The…
by - December 18, 2015 10:58 am
Editor’s note: This story is a component of The Compass Report. The quarterly Compass Report is managed by Talk Business & Politics, and sponsored by Arvest Bank. Supporting sponsors of…
by - November 5, 2015 5:57 pm
Two of Arkansas’ largest metro areas continued to see economic improvements during the second quarter of 2015, with the Fort Smith metro economy falling back slightly because of poor job…
by - July 20, 2015 2:10 pm
Gains in employment, sales tax collections and building permits resulted in the best combination of grades for Arkansas’ top three metro economies since the first quarter of 2012 when the…
by - April 9, 2015 11:28 pm
Downtown development and raising expectations were at the core of discussions at the 2015 Compass Conference on Thursday (April 9) evening. Held at the historic Masonic Lodge in downtown Fort…
by - April 9, 2015 12:36 pm
Economic conditions in Arkansas’ three largest metro areas were relatively healthy in the fourth quarter of 2014. Small improvements were seen in the central Arkansas and Fort Smith areas, and…
