Regional News

Commercial Real Estate Recovery Expected to Take Years

A report from S&P Global shows sectors of the economy are in danger of refinancing risks, especially in office spaces. Foreclosure on a CRE property is not often “the best course of action” when loan lenders look at restructuring debt,… more

Last Year’s Higher Ed Funding Highest Year Since 2008

State funding for public higher education rose to nearly 5 percent in the fiscal year 2022, according to the State Higher Education Finance (SHEF). A report from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) showed the most recent spike… more

Glimpse Into How Gen Z Will Shake Up The Workforce

Since the pandemic, the national workforce has taken a significant hit with many workers deciding to leave their jobs and now the next generation of the labor force is ready to fill those positions. Private employers added 278,000 jobs in… more

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Reach Record High Since 2021

Figures for seasonally adjusted initial claims reached the highest level since October 2021, according to a news release from the Department of Labor. For the week ending June 3, advanced figures for seasonally adjusted claims was 261,000, up from last… more

Data Show Plunge in Business Borrowing

New data from the Federal Reserve Bank show a steep decline in business demand for commercial and industrial loans since interest rates began their sharp rise to combat inflation in the second quarter of 2022. The Fed’s survey of lending… more

Former KC Fed President Speaks on Longevity of Inflation Crisis

The former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Esther George appeared on the American Century Investments webinar to address her thoughts on inflation trends plaguing the economy. On Wednesday, George made her first public speaking… more

Saint Luke’s Partner Ranks in Top Q1 Hospital Operating Margins

BJC HealthCare, based in St. Louis, possesses a decent operating margin when compared to the rest of the nation. Becker’s Hospital Review put out a ranking of 30 healthcare systems ranked by their operating margins and BJC HealthCare edged right… more

MHA 2023 Workforce Report: Data Shows Need For Nurses

A new annual report from the Missouri Hospital Association says data collected statewide remains significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels in addition to thousands of vacant nursing positions. The MHS 2023 Workforce Report found staff nurse vacancies statewide reached 17.4 percent… more

Rental Home Construction Hit Record in ’22

The number of single-family homes being built specifically for the rental market nationwide reached 14,500 last year—an all-time record, and up 47 percent from 2021. That’s according to a new report on the Web site RentCafe, drawing on statistics from… more

State Start-Up Costs Don’t Flatter Missouri, Kansas

Missouri ranked middle of the pack, but Kansas fare considerably worse, in an analysis of costs for starting a business, according to a new report by Simplifyllc.com. The analysis explored factors like corporate income tax rate, labor participation rate, energy… more