economy

Unemployment Rate Drops In December, But So Did Labor Force

By Brandon Smith • Jan 23, 2018
The unemployment rate fell to 3.4 percent last month. That represents a drop of half of a percent since October. (Lauren Chapman/IPB News)

Indiana’s unemployment rate went down in December, the second consecutive month it’s fallen.

The rate fell to 3.4 percent last month. That represents a drop of half of a percent since October.

Helping that drop in December: the private sector added 6,000 jobs, led by the manufacturing industry.

Climate Change Could Be Costlier For Farmers, Study Finds

By Nick Janzen • Nov 29, 2017
Soybeans and corn grow in front of wind turbines at the Meadow Lake wind farm in northwest Indiana. (Annie Roepik/IPB News)

New research from Purdue University finds that climate change could have far more adverse impacts on agriculture than originally thought.

The study provides a new “social cost of carbon.” State and federal agencies often use the metric to determine the damage additional carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere will have on society and the economy.

Indiana’s New Sister State, Karnataka, Is Indian Tech Hub

By Annie Ropeik • Nov 27, 2017
Gov. Eric Holcomb and Karnataka’s Information Technology Minister Priyank Kharge sign a memorandum of understanding in Bangalore. (Photo courtesy of IEDC)

Indiana has inked a sister state agreement with the Indian state of Karnataka in hopes of teeing off more cultural and economic exchange.

Several companies in Karnataka’s tech hub capital, Bangalore, are in the midst of big expansions to the Hoosier state. Those include Infosys, Wipro and, most recently, Axiscades.

“The relationship really grew through our partnership with Infosys and blossomed from there,” said Indiana Economic Development Corporation spokeswoman Abby Gras in an email.

Trump Unveils 'Middle Class Miracle' Tax Plan In Indianapolis

By Annie Ropeik • Sep 27, 2017
President Donald Trump rolls out tax reform details at a speech in Indianapolis. (Annie Ropeik/IPB News)

President Donald Trump called the GOP’s tax reform plan a “middle class miracle” as he rolled out details in a speech in Indianapolis Wednesday.

Trump said tax reforms passed in Indiana before and during Vice President Mike Pence’s time as governor should be a model for national change.

State Inks Agreement To Study Purchase Of New Ohio River Port Site

By Annie Ropeik • Sep 22, 2017
This former coal plant site in Lawrenceburg, on the Ohio River, could become Indiana's next port. (Photo courtesy of Ports of Indiana)

Indiana has agreed to buy Ohio River-front land in Lawrenceburg that could house the state’s fourth port.

The state has been considering using the 725 acres in southeast Indiana as its next port facility for nearly a year.

Now, it’s inked an agreement to purchase the site, pending further study. Gov. Eric Holcomb’s office says the agreement will let port officials “begin studies to examine the economic and environmental viability of the parcel.”

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