From the Editor

Two years after the the 2010 Census, EBR Director Marshall Vest, revisits revisions to population counts which have taken place in the intervening two years. Experts agree that estimates made by Arizona's State Demographer are superior to those originally released by the 2010 Census. Find out why in Marshall's article "The Future Looks A Lot Like the Present." He also provides a detailed analysis of the factors contributing to and detracting from economic progress in Arizona. While we are seeing modest improvements in many aggregate measures, such as, nonfarm employment, retail sales, wages, and even a slight up-tick in the FFHA hous Price Index, Marshall predicts another year or two of slow recovery for Arizona's economy.  

Arizona had the highest foreclosure rate in the nation in March, with one out of every 300 housing units in foreclosure, according to RealtyTrac. Read about other important data developments from March and April in our Data-Round-Up March/April 2012.

Check our our indicators application on the RHS menu. These applications now update live when the original source is updated. Over the coming quarter we will extend our data offerings to include Arizona counties again, and all Arizona's metro areas. If there are particular data you would like to see presented on our websites. Please drop me a line and let me know at ebrlib@eller.arizona.edu, attention Maile Nadelhoffer.

Please join Eller economists Gerald J. Swanson and Marshall J. Vest for breakfast as they give their take on what to expect from the economy for the second half of 2012 and beyond. At this point Marshall puts the risk of recession for the U.S. at 25%, down considerably from last summer when the odds were even. To find out why register for this must attend event to be held at the Westin La Paloma on Tuesday, June 5, 2012.

For additional information, please contact the Economic and Business Research Center.