JACKSON — An encouraging sign for the city of Jackson’s economy is the $256,000 rise in sales taxes in the last quarter over the same period in 2010. The numbers primarily reflect a strong holiday season for retailers, but business leaders said they’re cautiously optimistic that gains could continue into this year. “Across the retail [...] [...]
by MBJ Staff Published: February 8,2012
Tags: banking, Banks, colleges, consumer confidence, economy, education, electricity, energy, financial institutions, higher education, power, universities, utilities
STARKVILLE — Mississippians’ optimism about the economy jumped 10 percent from the third to fourth quarter of 2011, according to the latest Mississippi Index of Consumer Sentiment featured in the current edition of “Economy Watch.” Based at Mississippi State University’s College of Business, “Economy Watch” is published in cooperation with BankPlus and Entergy. More than [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: February 1,2012
Tags: appropriations, budget, budget proposal, cuts, economy, emergency funds, executive branch, governor, lawmakers, legislative, Legislature, rainy day, reserves, spending, state budget, state government
JACKSON — Gov. Phil Bryant proposed yesterday to cut state spending by $26 million to $5.49 billion in 2013 while also insisting on building $100 million in state reserves. The newly inaugurated Republican summarized his first budget as a “lot of cuts,” saying he won’t raise taxes and that state revenues have yet to recover [...] [...]
ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Mississippi’s unemployment rate dipped to 10.4 percent in December, as more people withdrew from the labor force. The jobless rate is down from 10.5 percent in November, but above the 10.2 percent rate in December 2010. Mississippi had the fourth-highest jobless rate among the states in December. The number of unemployed people [...] [...]
JACKSON — Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves yesterday said state revenue in fiscal year 2013 would not increase significantly, reflecting the financial difficulties Mississippi’s economy may experience in the next several fiscal years. “Economic recovery hasn’t hit Main Street, and Mississippi families and businesses continue to struggle,” Reeves said. “The economic outlook for the state reflects [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: January 12,2012
Tags: banking and finance, Banks, bubble, economy, financial institutions, foreclosures, home loans, homeownership, homes, houses, loans, mortages, real estate, recession, residences, residential real estate, residents
ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — The pace of home foreclosures in Mississippi slowed substantially in 2011, following a national trend that may soon be reversed, a national foreclosure tracking firm said yesterday. Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac said that in 2011, 3,172 homes in the state were hit by some sort of foreclosure action. Those range from an initial [...] [...]
ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — The lower input costs of corn give it some advantages for Mississippi Delta farmers choosing between corn and cotton for 2012. Farmers will be making planting decisions through February. Jerry Singleton, an agent with the Leflore County Extension Service, tells the Greenwood Commonwealth the key for farmers is deciding which has the [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: January 11,2012
Tags: cargo, dredging, economy, engineers, navigation, river, shipping, ships, silt, trade, transportation
MISSISSIPPI RIVER — The U.S. economy faces losing billions of dollars in trade unless the Army Corps of Engineers’ budget for dredging the Mississippi River is increased to prevent the river from silting in, according to a new study commissioned by businesses that rely on the river. Every year, the corps keeps the channel open [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: January 10,2012
Tags: appropriations, budget, colleges, economy, education, funding, higher education, students, teaching, universities
ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Mississippi’s university and community colleges systems are asking legislators for more money. Higher education commissioner Hank Bounds says the universities want a $30.5 million increase from last fiscal year, bringing the total funding bid for the eight schools to nearly $747 million. Eric Clark, executive director of the Board of Community and [...] [...]
by MBJ Staff Published: January 5,2012
Tags: demand, economy, employees, firings, health, healthcare, hospitals, lay offs, medicine, payroll, recession, workers
JACKSON — The University of Mississippi Medical Center is reducing the size of its workforce by approximately 115 employees. Coupled with a decision to not fill 90 vacant positions, the UMMC workforce will be about 2 percent smaller than it was at the end of 2011, according to Dr. James E. Keeton, vice chancellor for [...] [...]
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