Woof. The latest issue of the Humboldt Economic Index is a major bummer. The leading indicators of our economic health "universally soured in November," the report states. The monthly economic barometer, assembled by students in H.S.U.'s economics department, measures changes (with seasonal adjustments) in six sectors of the local economy. Here are the lowlights:
Unemployment claims -- up
Help wanted ads -- down
Number of building permits issued -- down
Number of homes sold -- down (albeit slightly)
Median price of a home -- down
Retail sales -- down
Lumber manufacturing -- down
Hospitality -- down
See? Bummer. Perhaps searching for a silver lining, the authors of the report note that national markets are faring better than ours, so things might start looking up "if local trends mimic general ones." And one more bright (?) note: Local gas prices fell four cents to $3.94 per gallon. Just in time for Christmas.
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