U.S. Unemployment Claims Climb to 260,000
New unemployment claims in the U.S. rose to more than 260,000, the highest level in four years, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The spike comes alongside downward revisions showing 911,000 fewer jobs were created in 2024 than initially reported, while...
Moody’s: Consumer Spending Gap Shapes U.S. Economic Growth
New data from Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi shows a widening divide in U.S. consumer spending, with the top 20% of households driving economic growth while the bottom 80% have barely kept pace with inflation. The wealthiest households have outspent...
Pennsylvania’s Economy Sees Growth With $84 Billion Impact from Tourism Industry
Pennsylvania’s tourism industry generated nearly $84 billion in 2024, supporting more than 514,000 jobs and drawing over 201 million visitors, according to a new state report. Visitor spending reached $49.9 billion, with international travelers making up 4.2% of...
Georgia-Pacific Unveils $800M Alabama Mill Expansion
Georgia-Pacific will invest $800 million to modernize and expand its Alabama River Cellulose mill in Monroe County, making it the largest softwood pulp mill in the U.S. The project, set to run from late 2025 through 2027, will boost production capacity by about 300...
Eli Lilly Picks Virginia for $5 Billion Manufacturing Plant
Eli Lilly has chosen Goochland County, Virginia, as the site of a $5 billion manufacturing plant, the first of four new U.S. “mega sites” included in its $27 billion domestic investment plan. The facility will employ 650 people and focus on producing active...
Lawmakers Pass California Bill to Boost Manufacturer Decarbonization Projects
The California Legislature has passed AB 1280, a bill that would provide financing for manufacturers to adopt thermal energy storage systems and heat pumps, while setting labor and community benefit requirements for eligible projects. The bill expands incentives under...
Air Wisconsin Plans Over 200 Layoffs at Appleton and Milwaukee Airports
Air Wisconsin is planning to lay off 127 employees at Appleton International Airport and 114 at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, according to a WARN notice filed with Wisconsin regulators. The cuts, effective Oct. 28, add to earlier layoffs this year that...
Bellevue, WA’s Economic Growth Outpaces Peer Cities Nationwide
Bellevue’s median household income rose 39% from 2018 to 2023, far outpacing other cities and reflecting a surge of more than 10,000 new jobs and 4.3 million square feet of new office space downtown. The city’s creative economy now contributes 37% of the region’s...
South Dakota Celebrates Opening of $500M High Plains Processing’s Soybean Plant
South Dakota marked the opening of High Plains Processing’s $500 million soybean facility in Mitchell, the state’s largest construction project ever. Officials said the plant will generate long-term economic impact by processing 35 million bushels annually and...
City of Moorhead, MN Moves Forward with Land Sale for $5B Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant
The Moorhead City Council unanimously approved an option agreement with DG Fuels, paving the way to sell city-owned land for the company’s proposed $5 billion sustainable aviation fuel production facility on 554 acres near the city’s industrial park and municipal...