The establishment and mission of the Center for Regional Economic Research is outlined in a piece in the Chattanooga Times Free Press. CRER director Howard Wall and CRER research scholar and finance and economics chair Bento Lobo described why the center was established and what it hopes to accomplish for the university and the community.…
6/1/2024: Business Leaders Predict the Future of Chattanooga’s Retail Scene
An article in the June issue of Edge Magazine from the Chattanooga Times Free Press asks several business owners about the future of retail in Chattanooga. It also has CRER director Howard Wall discussing the general health of the local economy as it pertains to the retail sector going forward. “Wall anticipates that the area’s…
5/26/24: Chattanooga Jobless Rate Falls to an All-Time Low
CRER director Howard Wall is quoted in the Chattanooga Times Free Press in a story about the Chattanooga unemployment rate for April 2024. The unemployment rate hit an all-time low of 2.5 percent, but that number is not seasonally adjusted. The seasonal adjustment should result in a rate of 3 percent, which would tie April…
5/16/2024: The Demographics of Chattanooga Employment Growth
The Chattanooga metro economy has experienced higher-than-average employment growth for the past decade. This paper examines how this manufacturing-led boom has meant higher employment to population ratios for every major demographic category, despite the major disruption of the COVID pandemic. It finds that the benefits of Chattanooga’s boom have been felt by every age group,…
4/18/2024: Local Home Costs Rise But Are Below National Average
Article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press featuring CRER Research Scholar Bento Lobo: “Higher prices and mortgage rates have made buying a home less affordable for many Chattanoogans, and unfortunately, many markets have not built enough houses to keep up with demand in recent years,” said Bento Lobo, a professor of finance and head of…