Updated Micropolitan Indices
Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research has developed indices to measure the general current economic conditions in each of Kansas’ sixteen micropolitan statistical areas. Each index is designed to provide a broad perspective on the local economy for each of these micropolitan areas throughout the state.
The indices are based on local employment, unemployment rates, inflation-adjusted retail sales, and manufacturing wages, while also taking into account statewide performance in the oil and farm sectors in the areas where those sectors are relevant to the local economy. Generally, increasing values for a micropolitan area’s index indicate improving economic conditions.
In the second quarter of 2018, the economic performance of Kansas’ micropolitan areas was mixed, with seven areas’ indices increasing compared to the previous quarter, while nine decreased. On average, the micropolitan indices declined by 0.5 index points compared to the previous quarter and declined less than 0.1 index points as compared to one year prior
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