By Brian G. Long, Ph.D., C.P.M. The stronger-than-usual performance for the West Michigan economy has continued into the opening of the second quarter of 2018, although the pace slowed to some extent. According to the data collected in the last two weeks of April, NEW ORDERS, our closely-watched index of business improvement, retreated to +28 [...]
By Brian G. Long, Ph.D, C.P.M. For West Michigan, the first quarter of 2018 has started on a strong footing. According to the data collected in the last two weeks of March, NEW ORDERS, our index of business improvement, came in at +34, slightly better than last month’s +32. The West Michigan PRODUCTION index held [...]
Local economist Brian Long presented his annual economic report to the KGOP luncheon in March. Click here to view a PDF version of his presentation.
By Brian G. Long, Ph.D., C.P.M. January was good, but February was better. According to the data collected in the last two weeks of last month, NEW ORDERS, our closely-watched index of business improvement, upticked to +32 from +23. In a similar move, the West Michigan PRODUCTION index edged up to +31 from +24. A [...]
By Brian G. Long, Ph.D., C.P.M. For the West Michigan industrial economy, 2018 is starting on a positive note. According to the data collected in the last two weeks of January, NEW ORDERS, our index of business improvement, rose modestly to +23 from +19. In a similar move, the West Michigan PRODUCTION index edged up [...]
By Brian G. Long, Ph.D., C.P.M. Historically, the end of the year has sometimes been rough for the West Michigan economy. However, according to the data collected in the last two weeks of December, the local economy finished 2017 on a solid footing. NEW ORDERS, our closely watched index of business improvement, was virtually unchanged, [...]
By Dr. Brian G. Long, Ph.D., C.P.M. For the past couple of years, growth in the West Michigan economy has been a little sluggish in the fall. For instance, NEW ORDERS, our index of business improvement, dipped to -1 in November 2015 and dropped much more abruptly to -13 in the October 2016 on the [...]
By Dr. Brian G. Long, Ph.D., C.P.M. Yes, the West Michigan economy is still going strong. According to the West Michigan survey conducted during the last two weeks of September, NEW ORDERS, our closely-watched index of business improvement, rose quietly to +21 from +19. The PRODUCTION index remained positive but retreated modestly to +17 from [...]
By Dr. Brian G. Long, Ph.D., C.P.M. After a summer lull, the West Michigan economy resumed the positive growth pattern we have seen for the past eight years. According to the survey conducted during the last two weeks of August, NEW ORDERS, our index of business improvement, rose to +19, up nicely from last month’s [...]
By Dr. Brian G. Long, Ph.D., C.P.M. After six months of disappointing car sales, the impact on our local auto parts suppliers is finally being felt by the West Michigan economy. It’s not a collapse, just a modest tapering of the growth rate. And growth is still growth. According to the survey conducted during the last [...]