Content area
Full text
Lansing-area economic activity moderately gained in the first quarter. The Greater Lansing Business Index rose to a preliminary level of 120.0 in March compared with 115.7 at the end of 2004. Although the index was slightly higher than December 2004 levels, the local business climate is approximately unchanged compared with yearago levels.
Over three years into a national economic recovery, there has been little sign that Michigan and Lansing have participated with any meaningful growth. In early April, the latest jobless figures put the state at 6.9 percent. In comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate is 5.4 percent.
More than any statistic, the unemployment rate registers as the highest profile economic measure among average Americans. Professionals know that the unemployment rate is a lagging variable that is usually one of the slowest gauges to witness improvement in an economic recovery. This has especially been the case in Midwest states as a...