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Articles about the Economy

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Charlotte's economic recovery struggles to take hold
   October 25, 2012

Charlotte has lagged much of the country in this period of economic recovery, but the region has finally begun to see a few small signs of better days on the horizon. Over the past several months, there has been gradual improvement in the unemployment rate and home price index in the region. These bright spots are welcome news in a region that continues to suffer the effects of the Great... Read more
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Got milk? Got land? N.C. farms dwindle
   October 17, 2012
Crystal Cockman
Many people are surprised to learn that agriculture is the No. 1 industry in the state. However, North Carolina is losing farmland faster than any other state – and the number of dairy farms is down dramatically. Read more
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Business leaders’ outlook still positive, still declining
   October 2, 2012

The fourth quarter 2012 Charlotte Business Confidence Index report, released Sept. 28, shows Mecklenburg County business leaders’ optimism about economic prospects declined compared to expectations for the third quarter. Read more
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A Charlotte primer: A city that thinks big
   September 4, 2012

Welcome, Democrats! You have received loads of material on restaurants, sights and the strange habits of the locals. Here is a primer quick enough for you to digest while you spoon through your breakfast grits. Read more
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Some ‘zombie’ subdivisions rising from dead
   August 17, 2012

In the wake of the financial crash, many real estate developments across the Charlotte region appear frozen in various stages of construction. But a few of these so-called “zombie subdivisions” may be reviving, as developers regain their financial footing and, in some cases, propose new plans. (Click here for a photo gallery of abandoned subdivisions in and around Charlotte.) Read more
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Home values in region: Clusters of highs, lows
   August 8, 2012

How much are homes in your neighborhood worth? The era of upside-down mortgages and foreclosures has left homeowners across the country anxious about home values – theirs and their neighbors'. In the midst of this housing market upheaval, explosive growth in the Charlotte region has reshaped residential patterns. Read more
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Business leaders’ confidence dips but still positive
   July 2, 2012

The third quarter 2012 Charlotte Business Confidence Index report shows Mecklenburg County business leaders’ optimism about economic prospects declined compared to their expectations for the second quarter. The overall index value, however, remains positive on business confidence overall for the third consecutive quarter.   Read more
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The decline (and rise?) of Carolina manufacturing
   May 22, 2012

Keith Waters
After decades of decline, manufacturing jobs across the country have seen a modest uptick. This long period of industry restructuring has left a strikingly different geography of manufacturing in the Carolinas; we still make furniture and textiles, but that’s not the whole story anymore. Read more
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Celebrating student ties to communities
   April 27, 2012

Andria Krewson

In the McEniry building at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, students moved out the chairs on a recent afternoon to clear the room for guests and presentations. Pizza boxes, soft drinks and ice arrived for a reception for students in Janni Sorensen’s social inequality and planning class.

It was time for a celebration.

Read more
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Goodwill sponsors new online resource
   April 25, 2012

In this period of high unemployment, not everyone has suffered equally.  Two populations of particular concern are veterans and youth.  Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont provides services to both of these populations and is a lifeline for some of the most vulnerable populations in the Charlotte region.  The agency is continuing its innovation and outreach efforts in a... Read more