Page 34 - Flathead Beacon // 11.26.14

34 | NOVEMBER 26, 2014 BUSINESS BRIEFS
MONTANA’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPS TO 4.5 PERCENT
While Montana’s unemployment rate in October dropped down to 4.5 percent, Flathead County’s moved up 0.3 percentage point, reaffirming that the busy summer season has come to a close.
In October, Flathead County’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, up from 4.8 percent in September. There were 41,777 people working in October and 2,278 people out of work.
Gov. Steve Bullock said the news that Montana’s unem- ployment rate dropped again was an example of how the state’s economy continues to improve.
“As we head into the holiday season, Montana’s unem- ployment rate continues to decline and our economy con- tinues to grow,” Bullock said in a statement released Fri- day. “The historic job growth we’ve seen since January should give Montana businesses and retailers confidence as we head to the end of the year.”
Lake County’s unemployment rate dropped from 5.3 percent in September to 5.2 percent in October.
Lincoln and Glacier counties continue to struggle with some of the highest unemployment rates in the state. In Oc- tober, Lincoln County’s rate was 9.4 percent, compared to 8.7 percent in September, with 678 people still out of work. In Glacier County, the unemployment rate jumped two percentage points to 10.4 percent, the highest in the state.
The Department of Labor estimates that Montana’s economy added 580 jobs in October, with 12,145 jobs added over the past year.
“Montana’s economy has posted strong gains this year for Montana’s working families,” said Labor Commission- er Pam Bucy.
BULLOCK ANNOUNCES HISTORIC FIRST QUARTER REVENUE
Gov. Steve Bullock last week announced that Montana saw record general fund revenue collections during the first quarter of this fiscal year. Montana’s revenue collections, bolstered by strong private-sector job growth and higher wage earnings, are 7.18 percent higher than the previous re- cord.
“Montana has rebounded from the downturn in record fashion due to strong private-sector job growth and higher wage earnings. It is a testament to the progress made last legislative session to freeze tuition and keep higher educa- tion affordable, make historic investments in k-12 educa- tion, expand workforce training opportunities, and main- tain a balanced budget,” said Bullock.
In addition to total general fund record revenue, first quarter personal income collections were the highest ever recorded, totaling 6.44 percent ahead of the previous re- cord. During the last legislative session Bullock put an em- phasis on education, workforce training, and infrastructure projects to expand the workforce and increase wages.
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UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES BY STATES (OCTOBER) 12TH LOWEST: Montana 4.5%
LOWEST:
N. Dakota 2.9%
AVERAGE GAS PRICES BY STATE
NATIONAL AVERAGE
HIGHEST:
GLACIER PARK INT'L AIRPORT STATS (OCT.) DEPARTURES
5.8%
Georgia 7.7%
2013 2014
0
0
14,110 16,047
10,000 ARRIVALS 13,085
14,833
10,000
SOURCE: Montana Department of Labor & Industry
MONTANA EMPLOYMENT CHANGE BY INDUSTRY (OCT.-NOV.)
Natural Resources and Mining
Construction -1.7% Manufacturing 0% Trade, Transportation and Utilities -0.9% Information +4.2%
20,000 30,000
40,000
40,000
Financial Activities
Professional & Business Services
Education & Health Services
Leisure & Hospitality
Other Services
Government -2.7%
Figures do not include self-employed or agricultural employment. In total, Montana’s non- agricultural, seasonally adjusted payroll employment increased by 300 jobs.
SOURCE: Montana Department of Labor & Industry
HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES BY MONTANA COUNTIES (OCT.)
HOUSING STATISTICS
IN FLATHEAD COUNTY (OCT.)
Glacier 10.4% Lincoln 9.1% Big Horn 8.5%
DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE NASDAQ
S & P 500
PLUM CREEK (PCL)
APPLIED MATERIAL (AMAT) GLACIER BANK (GBCI) NORTHWESTERN ENERGY (NWE) CENTURYLINK (CTL)
+5.9% 17,805.47 +5.8% 4,745.47 +5.2% 2,067.02 +1.9% 41.76 +9.7% 23.03 +6.7% 27.85 +2.6% 52.49 +1.0% 40.33
Sanders
Granite 6.8%
Mineral
Lake 5.2% Ravalli 5.1%
Flathead
Rosebud
0%
5.1% 5.1%
5%
10%
15% 20%
8.3%
6.2%
SOURCE: Montana Department of Labor & Industry
Listed in trading price on Monday, Nov. 24 and percent change from closing on Oct. 24.
+2.0%
2013 2014
+0.4% +1.5% -0.4% -0.2% 0%
2011 2012 2013 2014
HIGHESTHAWAII LOWEST S. CAROLINA MONTANA(16THHIGHEST)
$ 3.8 9 /gal. $ 2 . 5 5 /gal.
Residential Sales Residential Land Sales Notices of Trustee Sales
91 125
21 28
-- --
146 134
55 47
-- --
MONTH IN STOCKS
20,000
30,000
$ 2.9 2
SOURCE: GasBuddy.com
SOURCE: Glacier Park International Airport
SOURCE: Jim Kelley at Kelley Appraisal in Kalispell
/gal.