Charlotte USA counties continued to decline in July, to 11.7 percent
overall from 11.91 percent. According to the Charlotte Regional
Partnership's August By the Numbers report, initial unemployment
claims also were down, 3 percent from June. However, the positive news
is tempered slightly by the likely possibility that discouraged
workers are giving up, as evidenced by a 1.4 percent smaller labor
force from July a year ago.
Business activity in the Carolinas continued to soften in August,
although the U.S. Consumer Confidence Index improved slightly in
August to 53.5 from July's 51.0. Despite the continued double-digit
unemployment rate, the regional economy is showing signs of
improvement as some companies have announced that they will be hiring,
particularly those in the financial services, medical device, food
processing and construction materials sectors.
The Charlotte Regional Partnership's By the Numbers, released monthly,
is the only report of its kind. Easy-to-read charts not only compare
employment numbers in the current and prior years for each of our 16
counties, the report breaks down employment changes by industry. It
compares the Charlotte region with the other six partnership areas in
North Carolina and other major Southeast regions. Charts show at a
glance year-to-year comparisons of the national unemployment rate,
consumer confidence and home sales indices. The report also summarizes
Charlotte USA locations, expansions, closings and layoffs for each
month fiscal year-to-date. And there are extras, such as taxable sales
within the region.
A nonprofit, public/private economic development organization, the
Charlotte Regional Partnership allocates and leverages regional
economic development resources to sustain and enhance the economic
growth, vitality and global competitiveness of the Charlotte region.
The 16-county region encompasses Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba,
Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly and
Union counties in North Carolina and Chester, Chesterfield, Lancaster
and York counties in South Carolina.
www.charlotteusa.com
