The recent flash index shows Illinois’ economy improving over the past month

Posted on October 2, 2021
Fred Giertz, an economics professor at the University of Illinois, says the state’s economic performance was pretty good over the last month, as measured by his Flash index. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ economic performance over the last month was surprisingly good, at least as the University of Illinois Flash index sizes it up.

Study author Fred Giertz, a U of I economics professor who compiles the index from a weighted average of consumer spending, corporate earnings, and personal income, said the index beat covid-related expectations.

On a scale on which 100 is the break-even point, the index inched from 105.6 to 106.0.

“I wouldn’t call it a dramatic change, but certainly a positive direction,” said Giertz. “The unemployment rate is down a small amount, but we are lagging the rest of the country. Our unemployment rate is a little less than two percentage points higher than the rest of the country, so it means that we have some catching up still to do.”

Illinois’ unemployment rate is seven percent, while the nation’s is 5.2 percent.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…