A new white paper from the CRER describes the Chattanooga metro area economy in terms of the occupations of its residents. Looking at employment from the perspective of occupations rather than industries provides a better picture of the skills, training, and job types that underlie the economy. The largest occupation groups are fairly general in…
3/18/25: Home Loan Interest Rates Could Rise to 11.5% under Tennessee Bill
In a story on NewsChannel 9 in Chattanooga, CRER director Howard Wall gave his perspective on a proposal in the Tennessee legislature to change the method for calculating the maximum mortgage rate that can be charged in the state. The bill would peg the maximum mortgage interest rate at four percentage points above the average…
3/5/25: Local Impacts from the New tariffs on Imports from Mexico, Canada and China
Channel 3 News in Chattanooga covered the local impact on costs for consumers and producers following the imposition of tariffs. CRER director Howard Wall had this to say: “Imports from Mexico—you’ll see a lot of increase in prices of foods,” said Dr. Howard Wall, director of the Center for Regional Economic Research at the University…
3/5/2025: Steel Prices in Chattanooga Surge Due to Trade Tariffs: Businesses Face Uncertainty
Interesting story on News Channel 9 about steel prices following tariffs placed on Canada, Mexico, and China featuring CRER director Howard Wall: “Because of uncertainty, firms don’t know what’s going to happen ahead, so they’re hesitating on doing investment and on hiring.” “Chattanooga is a big manufacturing town, and manufacturers here will definitely be harmed…
3/2/2025: Chattanooga Area Bankers Remain Hopeful for the Future Amid Economic Uncertainties
The Chattanooga Times Free Press has an article looking at what local bankers foresee about the upcoming year. CRER director Howard Wall made an appearance in the article describing import tariffs and their negative effects for the national and local economies. Read the story here