by - February 18, 2025 10:05 am
Most key factors of economic activity in the U.S. and Arkansas economies are expected to moderate in 2025 compared with 2024 and 2023 trends. The broader U.S. economy is expected…
by - February 10, 2025 12:54 pm
The energy sector has welcomed the emergence of the lithium industry in Arkansas while it grapples with rising electricity demand and declining generation as coal-fired plants are retired. Leaders look…
by - February 7, 2025 10:01 am
The rising cost of health care, lack of access in many rural areas around the state, and the highest maternal mortality rate in the country are big challenges that advocates,…
by - February 5, 2025 9:04 am
Arkansas’ banks are financially strong, and some could be seeking to acquire out-of-state properties. A recent survey showed that bankers across the country are hopeful the regulatory environment will improve…
by - February 3, 2025 3:18 pm
Arkansas tourism grew to a $9.9 billion industry in 2024 and the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism is expecting business and tourism travel growth to continue in 2025….
by - February 1, 2025 11:36 am
The United States has been mired in a “freight recession” for more than a year and Cass Freight Index numbers indicate it’s not over. The Index reported that freight shipments…
by - January 30, 2025 11:13 am
Soybean agronomist Jeremy Ross was preparing to celebrate New Year’s Eve when his phone rang. It was a producer he’d worked with in the past. The news was not good, and was possibly a…
by - January 29, 2025 9:22 am
Gov. Sarah Sanders’ 2023 LEARNS Act changed K-12 education. Her focus now is on changing higher education. In her Jan. 14 State of the State address, Sanders introduced the Arkansas…
by - January 27, 2025 11:28 am
The diverse retail sector withstood inflation, high interest rates and changing consumer preferences in 2024, but still managed to garner a combined $5.28 trillion in sales, up 3.6% from the…
by - September 18, 2024 10:24 am
The transportation sector and trucking in particular have been mired in an economic downturn for more than a year, and several stakeholders within the sector told Talk Business & Politics…
by - September 11, 2024 12:26 pm
Financial viability for some farmers is becoming an increasing concern for agriculture stakeholders and public officials as the harvest season draws near, according to Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward….
by - September 9, 2024 1:58 pm
Arkansas health care providers are facing increasing costs without matching payment increases from government payers and insurance companies. It’s a major issue in a state that ranks near the bottom…
by - September 2, 2024 12:46 pm
Arkansas’ manufacturing sector accounts for 12% of the state’s total payroll jobs and could add more than 1,000 jobs if recent growth rates continue, according to economist Greg Kaza. Job…
by - September 1, 2024 1:02 pm
What’s the state of the state in education? Schools are implementing Gov. Sarah Sanders’ LEARNS Act. Legislators are performing the biennial adequacy study that will determine school funding amounts for…
by - August 25, 2024 3:19 pm
Arkansas Tourism Director Dalaney Thomas said the state’s 2% tourism tax collections continue to rise with fiscal year 2024 (June 2023-July 2024) closing out at a record $26.363 million, up…
by - August 22, 2024 4:58 pm
Arkansas might be in a unique position to become a power player in the energy sector as more people buy electrical vehicles (EVs) in the coming years. EVs need batteries…
by - August 18, 2024 12:59 pm
The national economy is reaching what one Arkansas economist called a “possible inflection point.” Arkansas’ unemployment rate, meanwhile, is a full percentage point below the national average with almost two…
by - August 15, 2024 1:42 pm
Arkansas banks have been catching their breath as interest rates have remained stable for a year. Now, they are preparing for future rate changes that might occur. In fact, the…
by - February 12, 2024 2:31 pm
Editor’s note: The State of the State series provides reports twice a year on Arkansas’ key economic sectors. The series publishes stories to begin a year and stories in July/August…
by - February 9, 2024 4:01 pm
Editor’s note: The State of the State series provides reports twice a year on Arkansas’ key economic sectors. The series publishes stories to begin a year and stories in July/August…
