Economic Indicators
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A. Increasing Personal
Income
Data Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic
Analysis
NOTE: Slight "benchmark" adjustments are made each
spring that can affect the figures for previous years.
Updated 05/01/2012
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Why this is important:
Personal income measures income received by households from
wages, fringe benefits, rents, interest, dividends, and
transfer payments like Social Security. It represents the
main component of consumer purchasing power. Because consumer
spending accounts for about two-thirds of economic activity,
growth (or declines) in personal income have a major impact
on the economy.
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B. Iowa Earnings Increase
Data Source: Quarterly Census
of Employment and Wages, Iowa
Workforce Development, Employment
Statistics Bureau
Updated 05/01/2012 |
*3rd Quarter 2011 |
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Why this is important:
This represents the money income of workers in
all industries. Changes in the figures over time
reflect underlying trends in industry wages.
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C. More Iowans Working
Data Source: Iowa Workforce Development,
Labor Market and Economic Research Bureau
NOTE: Slight "benchmark" adjustments are made
each spring that can affect the figures for previous
years.
Updated 05/01/2012
Updated 05/01/2012
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Why this is important:
Employment figures are a count of the number of filled jobs, excluding the self-employed, domestic jobs in private households, farm jobs, and the armed forces. Because some people work more than one job, the employment level also exceeds the number of working persons. Employment is the main source of household income and has a direct impact on consumer spending and the overall health of the economy.
The unemployment rate measures the number of persons 16
years of age and older who do not have jobs and are available
for and actively seeking work within the labor force as
a whole. This is a major indicator of the degree to which
the state economy provides jobs for those who are seeking
work.
NOTE: All of the figures were revised downward in the
spring of 2005 in response to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
benchmarking
effort and using the methodology changes which took affect
in January 2005.
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D. Home Sales
Data Source: Iowa Association of Realtors, Iowa Department
of Economic Development,
Iowa Finance Authority
Updated 11/28/2011 |
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Why this is important:
This reflects the number of residential home sales within a year. Home sales are often a product of favorable interest rates, economic activity, and gains in disposable income.
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