e-connection (October 2011 Edition, Vol. 6, No. 10)

Unemployment Insurance Demographics Now Available

CEDBR has obtained data from the Kansas Department of Labor on the number of Kansas workers who received unemployment insurance benefits in second quarter 2011. That data is now available in a report that summarizes the demographics by educational attainment, gender, race, ethnicity, age, and industry. In addition, second quarter 2010 data is provided for comparison.

Read more.

Kansas Vehicle Registration Data Available by County

The average number of vehicles per capita in Kansas, for the population 16 years and over, in 2010 was 0.91. CEDBR has mapped this same data by Kansas county in a new report that is now available online.

View this report.

Third Quarter ACCRA Cost of Living Index Is Released

Wichita’s Cost of Living Index for third quarter 2011 was 91.8, approximately 8 percent below the average index value of 100 for the 309 participating urban areas. The most expensive place to live was New York (Manhattan), N.Y., with an index value of 223.9. The least expensive place was Harlingen, Texas, with an index value of 81.7.

Read more of the results of the third quarter ACCRA pricing event. 

Subscribe to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index.

WSU Current Conditions Index Loses Its Upward Momentum

In August, the WSU Current Conditions Index declined for the first time this year, with a drop of 0.3 percent from July. The Index indicator with the largest percentage decline was seasonally adjusted outbound airline passengers at Mid-continent Airport, which decreased 9.9 percent. The seasonally adjusted hotel occupancy rate also declined, by 6.2 percentage points. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose each of the four months from May through August. However, when comparing the 12 months ending in August with the previous 12 months, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined 0.8 percentage points.    

Read the report in its entirety.

WSU Leading Index Remains Strong

In August, the WSU Leading Economic Indicators Index rose 1.7 percent from July. An increase in the real value of Wichita’s building permits, both residential and nonresidential, had a favorable impact on the August Index. Other indicators showing improvement were the inflation-adjusted value of new orders for aircraft and parts in the nation, which increased 23.8 percent, and the number of initial unemployment claims in Kansas, which decreased 26.7 percent. Only two of the nine Index indicators declined from July to August: national consumer confidence decreased 14.7 Index points and the inflation-adjusted value of aerospace stock prices decreased 17.5 percent.

Read the August Index report in its entirety.

Indicators