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Wisconsin AG seeks to stop Elon Musk's $1M payments at rally giveaway; Rural advocates urge CA lawmakers to safeguard banking protections; Federal, state job cuts threaten FL workers' rights, services; Alabama counties lack high-speed internet and health access.

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President Trump says there are ways for him to take a third term. New tariffs are scheduled for this week, but economists say they'll hurt buying power. And advocates say the Trans Day of Visibility is made more important by state legislation.

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Rural folks face significant clean air and water risks due to EPA cutbacks, a group of policymakers is working to expand rural health care via mobile clinics, and a new study maps Montana's news landscape.

Economists cautiously optimistic about 2025 AR economy

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Friday, January 10, 2025   

Economists are optimistic about the Arkansas economy in 2025.

According to the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, the state has outperformed the national economy by most measures since 2020. However, local and national economists are voicing concerns over proposed tariffs on imported goods that could be implemented under President-elect Donald Trump.

Jason Miller, a professor of supply-chain management at Michigan State University, said businesses and consumers are already trying to come up with a game plan.

"Certainly, if that results in not only a pull forward of imports to try to get in front of those tariffs," he said, "but also just what would potential retaliatory action by trading partners be, and how that would affect things."

During a recent economic forum, Michael Pakko of the Arkansas Economic Development Institute said tariffs would slow growth because companies that operate at the Port of Little Rock rely on imported materials.

Trump's promises of mass deportations could also negatively impact the state. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that 58,000 undocumented people live in Arkansas. Miller said that if workers are deported, many companies, large and small, won't be able to operate.

"Potentially cause shortfalls of labor in the agricultural space and also the food manufacturing space," he said, "and then what implications could that have for prices that farmers and manufacturers are going to be charging and therefore are going to get passed on to consumers."

Tyson Foods and many local farmers rely on the immigrant population for workers.


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