The 25 Things to Economic Developers Need to Know This Week
August 24, 2023 edition.
Welcome to this week's issue of What Economic Developers Need to Know This Week, where we explore the evolving dynamics of our economy. Today's edition promises to be as refreshing as a splash in the pool.
This week we have 25 tools, stories, graphics, charts and videos that I think you'll find informative, useful, inspiring, and perhaps even humorous. Some are economic development related directly, and some only indirectly. 🤔
If you're wondering what to do with the info in this newsletter, send something to your board members. It will make you look good!
As always, if you find something interesting, please send it to me.
1) Notice these two graphs. The first shows the number of workers employed in manufacturing. Looks pretty low, doesn't it.
Now look at the second. The productivity of the US manufacturing sector. It's just a little off the 2007 peak.
What's that mean? Manufacturing productivity is way up.
2) Ranked: The U.S. cities with the most vacant offices.
3) Blame the interest rates: The mortgage on a median home has increased 2.3x in the last three years.
4) This is what the supply chain looked like until recently.
