Wichita State News: CEDBR

WSU releases revised Wichita metropolitan area indices

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:30:00 CST

The Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University has compiled the current and leading indices to provide insights into the present and future state of the Wichita economy.

The WSU Current Conditions Index is designed to give an indication of the present conditions of the Wichita metropolitan area economy.

The WSU Leading Economic Indicators Index is designed to give an indication of where the Wichita economy is headed over the next six months.

Click here to read the full report.

Patenting activity on the rise in Kansas

Tue, 7 May 2013 08:41:00 CST

In 2012 there were 2,756 patents granted to inventors living in Kansas. This represented 1.90 patents per 1,000 workers, slightly below the national average of 1.96 patents per 1,000 workers.

Although the current level of patenting activity in Kansas is below the national average, the growth in patenting activity of 6.3 percent in Kansas between 1980 and 2012 was above the average annualized rate, among the states, of 5.3 percent.

The Wichita State University Center for Economic Development and Business Research has analyzed the Strumsky Patent Database of The Brookings Institution for each Metropolitan Statistical Area in Kansas.

Go here to read the full report.

WSU's Wichita Area Economic Outlook Conference set for Oct. 3

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:16:00 CST

Wichita State University will present Wichita's Economic Outlook 2012 Review and 2013 Forecast at the 34th Annual Wichita Area Economic Outlook Conference from 7:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Century II Convention Hall.

Jeremy Hill

Jeremy Hill, director of WSU's Center for Economic Development and Business Research, will be the main presenter.

The cost of the conference is $95, which includes breakfast.

Registration is not open yet. Check www.agenda.cedbr.org beginning June 1 for speaker and registration information.

For more detailed information, contact Jeremy Hill at 316-978-3225 or jeremy.hill@wichita.edu.

Hugo Wall School to host nonprofit policy summit

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:21:00 CST

Wichita State's Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs will host the annual Spring Nonprofit Policy Summit from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

The summit will examine the changing demographics of Kansas and the implications for nonprofit organizations. There is no charge to attend.

To register, contact Gayle Martin at 978-6541 or gayle.martin@wichita.edu.

Go to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?2075 to register online.

Jeremy Hill

Jeremy Hill, director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research, will outline the demographic changes and additional panelists will discuss economic, social and cultural trends and effects on their nonprofit organizations.

Panelists are Charles Koeber, associate dean, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Teresa Rupp, executive director, ChildStart; and Annette Graham, Sedgwick County Department on Aging director.

Economic report: Local employment expected to grow

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 08:56:00 CST

Employment in Wichita and the United States as a whole has stabilized. And after exhibiting growth in the first half of the year, Wichita is poised to grow throughout the remainder of 2012.

That's according to the 2012 Wichita Economic Outlook, released today by Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research.

For the complete report, go to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?1868.

Power Point presentations from the conference can be seen at http://www.wichita.edu/j/?1867.

Economic study: Kansas unemployment on the decline

Wed, 3 Oct 2012 02:00:00 CST

The Kansas unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in August 2012, 0.7 percent lower than the same month last year. That's according to the 2013 Kansas Economic Outlook, released by Wichita State's Center for Economic Development and Business Research.

This continues the general decline in unemployment rates that began after reaching a peak of 8.1 percent in July 2009.

Kansas employment is on track to increase 1 percent in 2012, with much of the job growth having occurred in the first eight months of the year. In 2013, Kansas employment is projected to increase 1.8 percent, gaining approximately 24,175 jobs.

Read the complete outlook.

Economic conference has new Facebook page

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:12:00 CST

Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR) now has a Facebook page to promote the 33rd Annual Economic Outlook Conference.

"Like" CEDBR by Friday, June 8, for a chance to win a free ticket to the conference.

Speaker updates, past pictures and local polls will be added to the site as CEDBR prepares for this year's conference.

To view the page, go to http://www.facebook.com/WSU.CEDBR.

Population projections for all Kansas counties released

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:00:00 CST

Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research has released online population projections by age cohort from 2010 through 2040 for all Kansas counties.

Two sets of population projections were completed to account for the unreliability of migration patterns. Migration patterns can change rapidly due to economic conditions, government policy or natural disasters.

Read the summary results, and see a spreadsheet with detailed projections.

Read the full story.

Economic Outlook Conference gains new sponsor

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:40:00 CST

Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR) has announced that Grubb & Ellis | Martens Commercial Group will be a major sponsor and the exclusive commercial real estate provider for the Wichita Area Outlook Conference on Oct. 11 at Century II's Convention Center.

The conference is hosted annually by Wichita State's CEDBR.

Jeremy Hill

"This relationship makes sense because it gives the center better commercial real estate market data and insight," said Jeremy Hill, CEDBR director.

The commercial real estate market forecast prepared for the economic outlook conference will be included in a tabloid that will appear in The Wichita Eagle on the same day as the conference.

"In addition to providing the annual commercial real estate forecast, we will provide quarterly updates on market conditions that CEDBR will use as part of other services they deliver throughout the year," said Steve Martens, CEO, Grubb & Ellis | Martens Commercial Group.

"This is an exciting opportunity to partner with and promote the leading provider of business, economic and demographic information in the Midwest."

Wichita State releases updated employment forecasts

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:51:00 CST

The Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University has released updated Wichita Metropolitan Area and Kansas employment forecasts for 2012.

The regularly scheduled release includes actual employment data through November 2011 and includes the recent announcement that Boeing Co. plans to close its Wichita operations.

For the Wichita area, CEDBR is forecasting a 0.6 percent increase in employment for 2012, for a total gain of 1,735 jobs. The 2012 forecast has been revised downward because of the slower than expected national growth and continued unknowns in the local and global economy.

Wichita's forecast for 2012 indicates a year of continued stabilization.

For the full Wichita forecast, go to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?1393.

As a state overall, the Kansas unemployment rate was 6 percent in November 2011. This continues the general decline in unemployment rates since mid-2009, after fluctuating a bit throughout 2011.

Kansas employment was expected to remain flat in 2011 when compared to 2010. Gains in the production and service sectors are expected to offset losses incurred in trade, transportation and utilities, as well as the government sectors.

The Kansas economy is expected to stabilize and begin growing at a modest pace. CEDBR estimates total employment growth of 1 percent, for a net increase of 13,010 employees, in 2012.

For the full Kansas forecast, go to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?1394.

Audio comments are available at http://www.wichita.edu/j/?1396.

2011 Kansas Economic Outlook: Employment still down

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:39:00 CST

National employment declined 0.8 percent in 2010. Year-over-year average annual employment grew a meager 0.4 percent in June 2011, and only modest gains are expected in 2012.

That's according to the 2011 Kansas Economic Outlook, just released by Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research.

Continued unemployment claims remain well above average. Housing and mortgage markets continue to falter. And consumer confidence is waning.

Yet, individual businesses boast strong balance sheets and high profitability.

The mixed messages from national indicators cause many to question whether the great recession has ended. Local indicators have been equally confusing.

» Read the full report.

Elected officials find improving the economy a challenge

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:05:00 CST

This WSU Newsline Podcast is available at http://www.wichita.edu/newslinepodcast. See the transcript below:

You're listening to the podcast edition of the Wichita State University audio newsline. Learn more about WSU — the home of Thinkers, Doers, Movers and Shockers — on the Web at wichita.edu.

Winning an election is one thing, controlling spending and helping the economy is another. Jeremy Hill, director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University, says elected officials get a dose of reality when they're in office.

Hill: "A lot of elected officials when they take office, they often want to go and affect the local economy, especially right now when it's of most importance. However, when they get in they actually will see that they have very little direct control over local spending and local budgets."

Elected officials who campaigned on change often find that change can be an elusive target.

Hill: "What we find is that local governments are not very nimble, but they're also not very rash. So what happens when the economy's growing really fast, governments tend to be much smaller than what citizens want. And when the economy is contracting, they're much larger than we want, which will put a strain on the local economy."

So what is an elected official to do? Hill talks about their main options.

Hill: "Elected officials' greatest power to affect the economy is actually setting the budget, that's not only looking at taxes and fees for services, but also what kind of spending they want the allocations. The problem is if you're newly elected, you actually will inherit the budget from the previous year."

"Elected officials' second greatest power to affect the economy is by discretionary decision-making. The problem is, a very little of the budget is discretionary. Most of the costs are in things like police services and jails."

So what kind of an impact can elected officials make initially? According to Hill, maybe not as much as you'd think.

Hill: "Decisions by elected officials have, in most part, a minor effect on the citizens' wallets immediately. Elected officials can cut their taxes and fees for services, for example, like water and sewer, but those savings take quite a while before citizens actually get the benefit."

When it comes to tackling the enormous deficits that are affecting our cities, counties, states and this country, some argue that we need politicians who are willing to lose their jobs at the ballot box in order to emphasize what he or she believes is right. At the very least, Hill says elected officials need to be able to make tough decisions.

Hill: "In my opinion, elected officials shouldn't be there to make friends, but to make tough decisions. To have a bigger impact on the economy, they should make decisions making good appointments to boards and committees, and make sure they get the right department heads and administrators that will make the sound decisions that affect the economy in a positive way."

And Hill says it's important for elected officials to listen to the citizens and balance their needs and wants.

Hill: "The most difficult thing for elected officials to do is to actually listen to the citizens and adjust the size of government to meet the needs and wants that they have. In a wealthier community, they may not want a reduction in parks and services, for example. But in a low income area, governments need to adjust, based on what is affordable."

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for Wichita State University.

Wichita employment expected to rise slightly in 2011

Thu, 7 Oct 2010 12:01:00 CST

Despite the economic blow experienced by Wichita's manufacturing sector, total nonfarm employment is expected to increase 0.5 percent in 2011, for a total gain of 1,315 jobs.

That's according to the 31st Annual Wichita Area Economic Outlook Conference, held Thursday, Oct. 7, and presented by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University.

Job gains in nondurable goods manufacturing will help counteract job losses in durable goods manufacturing, holding total manufacturing employment to a 0.7 percent decline.

The production sector, as a whole, will lose 110 jobs, or 0.2 percent. Trade, transportation and utilities are forecasted to decrease by 100 jobs, or 0.2 percent. This decline will be driven by continuing employment losses in retail trade.

The service sectors are forecasted to increase 0.7 percent in 2011, while the government sector is expected to increase 1.4 percent.

For more information and a copy of the center's 2010 review and 2011 forecast report, go to www.cedbr.org.

WSU indexes reflect an improving local economy

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:49:45 CST

During the four months ending in February, the WSU Leading Economic Indicators Index experienced a net gain of 2.8 percent. Following months of decline, this increase is a welcome development, according to Jeremy Hill, director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University.

Seven of the nine index indicators improved from January to February, suggesting broad improvement across the economy. Those improvements included news that the number of Kansas initial unemployment claims declined by more than 50 percent; the inflation-adjusted value of Wichita's residential building permits increased 40.2 percent; the aerospace stock index increased 13.6 percent; and the national inflation-adjusted value of new orders for aircraft and parts increased 8.1 percent.

The WSU Current Conditions Index also increased in February by 1 percent. Four of the six seasonally adjusted index indicators showed improvement. Wichita's home sales increased 16.5 percent; the Wichita hotel occupancy rate increased 10.3 percent; the outbound volume of airfreight shipments at Mid-Continent Airport increased 11.3 percent; and the unemployment rate dropped 0.3 percent.

The index still has a lot of recovery to do to reach pre-recession levels, but February brought a flicker of hope to a situation that has been predominantly downhill since the end of 2007. This, coupled with the positive performance of the WSU Leading Economic Indicators Index in February, suggests that measurable year-end recovery of Wichita's economy is feasible.

The WSU indexes are sponsored and maintained by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research, W. Frank Barton School of Business, Wichita State University.

Barton School of Business, CEDBR to sponsor webinar series

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 08:05:55 CST

The first in a series of webinars sponsored by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research and the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University will address climate change and cap and trade.

The U.S. Congress is developing major energy legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade regime for the first time in history. In her presentation at the first webinar, Margo Thorning, chief economist for the American Council for Capital Formation, will address some of the key issues being debated in the Senate concerning the design of a clean energy and climate bill, such as the potential role of low- and no-carbon technologies, the use of domestic and international offsets and other cost-containment measures. The potential economic impacts of climate change policy on the future of the U.S. economy will also be discussed.

The hour-long event begins at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 27. To register, go http://www.wichita.edu/j/?519.

Another webinar session in this series addresses the question, "Will there be a productivity revolution in health care?" David Cutler, department of economics professor at Harvard University, will discuss how, at this time of organizational and financial change in health care, this system is poised to undergo a revolution in productivity. The event will be held from 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, May 25. To register, go to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?520.

John Williamson, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, will address the question, "Is the dollar doomed as a reserve currency?" at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 29.

Investor concerns about continued large budget deficits and runaway inflation have led many to question the dollar's status as the world's principal reserve currency. Williamson will discuss what, if anything, the administration and the Federal Reserve can do to maintain the reserve currency status of the U.S. dollar.

To register for this event, go to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?521.

The Center for Economic Development and Business Research will continue to seek and engage qualified experts to present webinars on current topics of interest to the business community.