The CRER produces quarterly forecasts of payroll employment growth for the six-county Chattanooga metro area. The latest forecast indicates net job gains of about 5,000 during 2026, which would be a big improvement over 2025. Even so, that would make the year a weak one relative to recent history. Job growth should return to normal…
1/12/26: A Return On Gig City Investment For The Chattanooga Area
CRER research scholar Bento Lobo recently appeared on WUTC’s Scenic Roots to speak about his research on the benefits of broadband investment in Chattanooga. Among his findings are that “Since EPB launched its fiber optic network and automated electric grid here in Chattanooga in 2010, those investments have generated 5.3 billion dollars of economic gains…
12/30/25: Make it Make Cents: Now-Retired Pennies Pose Puzzle for Chattanooga Consumers, Businesses
Newschannel9’s story on the penny shortage included comments from CRER director and chief economist Howard Wall: (T)he penny shortage was inevitable. He explained that the Federal Reserve stopped distributing pennies months ago and added, “Now, the other part of it is that a penny just isn’t worth what it used to be. So that’s really…
12/12/25: New CRER White Paper on the Benefits of High-Speed Broadband
A new white paper from CRER research scholar Bento Lobo examines the different ways that Chattanooga has benefited from high-speed broadband. Chattanooga was the first city in the country to roll out citywide gigabit-speed broadband in 2010, and the benefits of this infrastructure have been widespread and substantial. The benefits have come in the form…
12/8/25: The Economy During the Holidays
CRER director and chief economist was a guest on TalkRadio 102.3’s Jed and JR in the Mornings. They talked about the state of the economy and things to be worried and not worried about. Listen to the conversation here.