News

The Forensic Economist, An Economic Newsletter for Lawyers: Employment Fringe Benefits as an Element of Economic Loss in Personal Injury (January 2017)

02.09.2017

Employment Fringe Benefits As an Element of Economic Loss in Personal Injury

BLS Releases January 2017 Employment Situation (May 2017)

02.03.2017

The U.S. economy continued to create jobs at a modest pace in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Employers added 227,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in January of 2017.  The unemployment rate was little changed at 4.8 percent.

Job gains occurred in retail trade, construction, and financial activities. The number of jobs in retail trade increased by 46,000 over the month, while construction added 36,000 jobs and financial activities added 32,000 jobs. 

Job growth in December 2016 was revised to 157,000, up from initially estimated 156,000.  Over the past three months, job growth has averaged 183,000 additions a month. 

Average hourly earnings rose by three cents to $26.00, following a six-cent increase in December.   Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen 2.5 percent. 

The full BLS press release on the January 2017 employment situation can be accessed in the link below.

The next employment situation report for February 2017 will be released on Friday, March 10, 2017. 

First Quarter 2017 VBR/EPR Business Conditions Survey Results Released (Jan. 2017)

01.31.2017

The VBR/EPR Business Conditions Survey for the fourth quarter of 2016/first quarter of 2017 has been released.  Most responses to the question about the state’s overall business climate outlook were positive (46%).  The remaining responses were split between neutral (32%) and negative (22%).  More than 50 percent of respondents (51%) shared negative outlooks specifically with ease of hiring for available positions, compared to 60% in the previous survey.  The construction sector had the most optimistic outlook on the general business climate, while the health care sector had the least optimistic outlook.  Compared to the national Business Roundtable CEO Survey, Vermont companies are predicting higher capital spending plans, and a slightly more positive employment outlook than their national counterparts. 

For this reporting period, the diffusion index shows a increase in optimism from Q4 2016 to Q1 2017, indicating that Vermont CEOs continue to feel more optimistic about the business climate for the coming three months.  Vermont’s outlook appears to now be on an “improvement” trend given the responses from this and the previous survey, yet continues to demonstrate that economic conditions overall remain somewhat fragile in many areas of the State and in some parts of Vermont economy.

The Business Conditions Survey is conducted in partnership between the Vermont Business Roundtable and Economic & Policy Resources.  The nine question survey of the 97 members of the Vermont Business Roundtable captures a glimpse of how Vermont business leaders see the state economy.  The survey asks business leaders how  their businesses have fared in the recent past and how they view the future.  Sentiments regarding the current and expected business climate and the expected impact on hiring and investing decisions are also surveyed.   Included in the standard survey is a question asking roundtable members for opinions on a current debate in public policy.   Along with providing a snapshot of the Vermont business climate, the survey allows Vermonters to see how these markers change over time.

The press release is available as a PDF below.

NES Financial EB-5 Innovation Summit (Feb. 2017)

01.30.2017

EPR's President Jeff Carr will be presenting at the 4th Annual NES EB-5 Innovation Summit on February 9, 2017, in New York City.  Mr. Carr will be addressing the Summit on a panel discussion "Hot Topics EB-5."  The NES financial EB-5 summit brings together leading experts in EB-5 to discuss the latest developments in the industry and to discuss issues relating to the EB-5 Program.

Vermont Emergency Board Presentation (Jan.2017)

01.19.2017

On January 19, 2017, EPR President Jeffrey Carr presented the updated consensus economic and revenue forecast for the State of Vermont for fiscal years 2017-19.  Click below to connect to EPR's forecast update report.