CBER in the News

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 29, 2019) (Carl Nathe) — The Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) is the applied economic research branch of the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics. Its purpose is to disseminate economic information and provide economic and policy analysis to assist decision makers in Kentucky’s public and private sectors.

17 January 2019

(The Lane Report)

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary December 2018 unemployment rate was 4.4 percent, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency within the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. The unemployment rate for December 2018 was down from the 4.5 percent reported for November 2018.

The preliminary December 2018 jobless rate was down 0.1 percentage points from the 4.5 percent recorded for the state in December 2017.

20 December 2018

(WEKU, Stu Johnson)

The preliminary November unemployment rate for Kentucky is a familiar figure.  The 4.5 percent jobless figure for last month equals the rate in October and also a year ago in November.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary November 2018 unemployment rate was 4.5 percent, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency within the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. The unemployment rate for November 2018 was unchanged from October 2018.

The state’s jobless rate was also at 4.5 percent in November 2017.

The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate for November 2018 was 3.7 percent, also unchanged from its October 2018 level, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

18 October 2018

(The Lane Report)

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary September 2018 unemployment rate was 4.5 percent, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. The unemployment rate for September 2018 was up from the 4.4 percent reported for August 2018.

The preliminary September 2018 jobless rate was down 0.2 percentage points from the 4.7 percent recorded for the state in September 2017.

28 August 2018

(WV News)

CHARLESTON — A new academic report from researchers at the University of Kentucky found West Virginia’s repeal of the prevailing wage in 2016 has led to lower construction costs for public projects.

The report, released last week from the university’s Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER), is the first bit of evidence to show how the state is faring since the wage requirement was repealed.

29 August 2018

(The Journal, WV)

MARTINSBURG — The repeal of West Viriginia’s prevailing wage mandate has produced a decline in school construction costs, according to a study by the University of Kentucky’s Center for Business and Economic Research released Monday.

16 August 2018

(WKMS)

Kentucky’s July unemployment rate ticked down again from last year, but the rate is up slightly from June 2018.  

The Kentucky Center for Statistics reports the seasonally adjusted rate was 4.3 percent for July and 4.2 percent for June. Jobs in the manufacturing and government sectors increased, but jobs in the education and health services sector dropped.

17 August 2018

(Bristol Herald Courier)

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky officials say the state's unemployment rate increased slightly in July.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the state's seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 4.3 percent. The preliminary statewide figure is up slightly from the 4.2 percent rate reported for June. Officials say the July rate was down from the 5 percent unemployment rate in July 2017.

13 August 2018

(Cincinnati Enquirer)

Our economy is currently healthy in several respects. Unemployment is low, and median household incomes have increased.

However, there is a radical imbalance in how the benefits of growth are shared among Kentuckians.

According to the University of Kentucky Center for Business and Economic Research, changes in Kentucky household income from 1979 to 2015 are as follows (Income level; percentile; Kentucky; U.S.):

• Lower income level – 10 percent, down 0.8 percent in Kentucky, up 7 percent in U.S.