Economic Perspective

What is the economic outlook for businesses in 2021?

What are the implications of the pandemic on where the economy could have been, and could be going in the coming years?

What sort of impact has the shift in the types of inventions over the centuries had on society?

How have people been using time that would have been spent commuting during the pandemic?

During current times, are there any trends for people considering living in cities or the suburbs?

How has society's value of location changed over the years in real estate?

What does the Bureau of Labor Statistics outlook on the job market for the next 10 years look like?

Is there a looming debt crisis like during the Great Recession?

Household staples tend to go scarce in times of crisis, whether pandemic or weather related. In the past few months, has supply for certain items been met?

Vertical farms could have an impact on the future of agriculture. What do they look like, and what considerations come with implementing them?

What would it take to achieve high-speed internet for all?

Recently released data provides some insight into how the stimulus checks delivered in the spring were used by recipients. NC State University economist Mike Walden breaks down how they were spent.

There's usually a common trend in recessions between spending on goods and services. Has that trend followed in this current recession?

Calculating inflation during the downturn can be tricky as the unusual circumstances. Do the numbers accurately reflect the current circumstances?

The Federal Reserve recently released their economic forecasts for the next few years. What do they look like?

Income and spending typically go up and down together, but was that the case this past April?

As states start to open businesses back up, what other lingering impacts could there be?

Printing money can be used during times of economic crisis to mitigate some of the effects of the crisis. What factors need to be looked out for in these circumstances?

Is there a chance inflation could surge on the other end of the current crisis?

What factors might be considered when talking about closing down an economy?

What's the difference between a recession and a depression, and how are they defined?

There are a few tactics being discusses as to how the government can respond to the coronavirus. What are they, and what are their implications?

Vehicles can take one of the largest bites out of a households budget. What's the current status of vehicle finances in the country?

When calculating inflation, how does one account for increases in product quality that affect the product's price?

The automobile has always been a staple of every day life in our country, but does recent data show we're driving less? If so, how could this impact the future?

What should people be looking for when trying to start a business?

With some of the data from 2019 coming in, how popular were certain states in regards to how many people moved into and out of them.

The federal government released the latest measures for economic growth in the states. How did North Carolina stack up?

Talks of a recession in 2020 have seemed to ease recently. What factors could play into this?

There been recent changes to how retirement savings plans can be handled. What are those changes, and what effects can they have in the future?

The federal government recently released information at the county level for gross domestic product since the Great Recession. How do some of North Carolina's counties stack up?

Are there some new methods that businesses are using to keep their employees?

Cost of living gets thrown around a lot, but can that vary within a state as well as across the country?

With 2019 coming to a close, how did North Carolina's economy perform this past year?

The individual benefits of exercise have been documented, but are there economic benefits to regular exercise?

Mini cities are popping up across the country, and even some in North Carolina. What does this concept entail?

The manufacturing sector has long been a leading indicator for economic health, but is that still the case?

The holiday season is fast approaching. What does the spending outlook for the season look like?

Do we know who is paying for the tariffs in the trade war?

Interest rates have been low in recent years. What factors need to be considered when thinking about the lower inflation rate?

Inflation averages the price gains in all products and services, but are there key differences among the rates for specific buying categories?

Why does the U.S. still import foreign oil if it is producing its own?

Society often groups people by generations based on the year they were born, but how meaningful of a concept are generations?

Traditionally, the length of time for bonds caps out at 30 years, but are there talks of extending some bonds to 100 years?

What do businesses worry about, and how could those worries affect the direction of the economy?

Buying by households accounts of 70 percent of all spending.e Are there any major trends in consumer spending?

Are there any economic impacts with the trend of young people delaying marriage?

How does the latest interest rate cut effect consumers?

The popular adage "last hired, first fired" speaks to the hiring cycle in businesses, but does this apply equally across all levels?

Spending on infrastructure in the U.S. has been on the decline. When did this trend start, and why is investing in infrastructure important?

Now that we're halfway through 2019, NC State University economist Mike Walden provides a mid-year update on the economy.