Is the economy improving where you live?

[thedude]

Keeping political debates aside, is the economy improving in your area? Is your business growing? Just interested in what areas of the country and what business types are seeing growth. No need for specifics...business type and area of the country would be sufficient. Not doing a survey or anything like that. I'm just curious what real world people have to say. Thanks!

[thedude]

I'll start: global company manufacturing large industrial equipment used in power plants, refineries, large manufacturing facilities, etc. Orders are slightly down from 2012, but 2012 was our best year to date.

[shawndoggy]

Nevada has been decimated by the foreclosure crisis. There is still tons and tons of inventory to be wrung out before we will have a stable real estate market. That has made our tax base shrink dramatically, and government services have declined. Our schools, on the whole, are pretty bad, and are aging fast. While we have a favorable tax structure to attract new businesses, once they start looking at where to send their kids to school etc. we aren't as attractive. It's also difficult to attract skilled workers and continuing cuts in higher education means that we export our best and brightest kids to better schools and better opportunities.

It's not as bad here as it was in 2009-10 by any means, but we've still got a long way to go till we have a healthy economy. Mining (especially gold) has been a bright spot for the rural counties, but with the price of gold dropping, it's possible we're entering a bit of a bust cycle there.

[AirTool]

Texas....we are trying to secede.

[SkiTower]

Texas....we are trying to secede.

If you succeed in seceding I'm immigrating!


2007 SV211 SE

[AirTool]

If you succeed in seceding I'm immigrating!

There is a plan to protect the borders....all sides.

[Laketexoma]

Lol. I got the north border covered! Lol

[AirTool]

Lol. I got the north border covered! Lol

Thanks....I've got the upper coast and my dad has the lower coast.

[swankster]

For concrete drainage products, yes, it is improving but off of very low levels and we will probably not get back to the 2006 construction peak. BUT....TX has always been good. Over 1000 people a day are moving into TX.

[axeman]

Texas is probably one of the few places that has remained strong regardless of the rest of the country. I'm in tech and that industry is VERY strong here.

[Brichter14]

How is public education in Texas?

[swankster]

How is public education in Texas?

It varys and is highly dependent upon the area in which you live.

[gride]

alabama is seeing industrial manufacturing increase(airbus for one), and new private businesses seem to be opening constantly in the last year. However, across the board things are still pretty bad around here.

p.s. i would never let my child go to public school in texas or alabama. it would be private or homeschooled. no creationism for my kid.

[lucky7t]

Oklahoma real estate has sky rocketed .
Jobs involving artisan style labor are in high demand.

Labor type jobs are in high demand as well. We were never really effected by the economic downturn. As the poster above me stated about Texas I feel the same way about Oklahoma. I believe our oil and gas industry has given our state an advantage. We also produce wheat and grains for Taiwan.

As far as education goes I would never allow my children to attend public schools here if I can afford an alternative. Public schools here are poor to say the least. Politics here in Oklahoma plays a large role in which schools get the best facilities and teachers

[northwestwater]

hey thedude! i am in healthcare on the real estate as well as the provider side. i have seen growth since 2008. But, i also believe that healthcare has enormous hurdles to contain costs. i might add as a devil's advocate that you are asking this question to people who own some of the finest boats made. perhaps not a market where you will find people willing to accept mediocrity or willing to give up and stay home to live on food stamps.

Although, I try my best to run my company in a responsible way to empower the people who come to work for us, i have noticed that it is increasingly difficult for most of my employees to sustain their lifestyle prior to 2008. today, i continue to live off a smaller salary than I made back in 2008. while our company has grown, i have invested 100% of that money in the future of our company to benefit our employees and build a stronger future for them. I am worried that the future of our country is not on a sustainable path.

i wish all of us well. the future of our country and as a free people is to engage in discussions like this and then go out and build a stronger country.