e-connection (April 2012 Edition, Vol. 7, No. 4)

Save the Date

The 33rd Annual Wichita Area Economic Outlook Conference will be held Oct. 11, 2012, in the Century II Convention Hall, from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Breakfast is included with the ticket purchase. More information will be available as the event draws near.

In the meantime, please follow us on Facebook, where you can learn more about the Center for Economic Development and Business Research, as well as get current information about the upcoming conference.

Go to our Facebook page. 

CEDBR Releases Oil and Gas Report

Across the country, there has been increased activity in oil and natural gas production due to technological advancements in hydraulic fracturing. Improvements in this technology, as well as changing oil and natural gas prices, have the potential to increase employment in the natural resources and mining industry. Evidence of this can be seen in the increasing employment levels in Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and North Dakota. Although Kansas may be seeing increased activity in this industry, local employment levels have remained flat. 

View the full report.

New Report Analyzes Population and Migration in Douglas County

The Center for Economic Development and Business Research, W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University, recently released online population projections by age cohort from 2010 through 2040 for all Kansas counties. This newly released report is the second in a series of reports aimed at identifying ways to use population projection data. This report analyzes the population projections for Douglas County and demonstrates the impact migration patterns have on estimates. 

Read more.

Kansas Trade Is Impacted by Recession

The volume of Kansas exports, as measured in billions of dollars, declined as a result of the 2008-2009 recession. There has been an upward trend since late 2009, but Kansas’ total export value has not yet regained its pre-recession level.

More Kansas export data is available in a new report released by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research, including an analysis of the state’s top five exporting industries from 2007 to 2012. Similar data is also discussed for Kansas imports. 

Read more about Kansas exports and imports.

WSU Current Conditions Index Breaks a Downward Trend

After four months of decline, the WSU Current Conditions Index rose 0.9 percent in February. All of the seasonally adjusted Index indicators improved, except the Wichita MSA unemployment rate, which increased 0.3 percentage points. The volume of airfreight shipments at Mid-Continent Airport increased 16.1 percent. Wichita home sales increased 7 percent, and the local hotel occupancy rate increased 6.9 percentage points. 

Access the February Index report.

Indicators