County Economic Statistics Table 8 Help Wanted Advertising (March 2024)
Stevens Point
Wausau
Marshfield
Wisconsin Rapids
Merrill
Index # 2024 Q1
% ∆ Yr. Ago
Index # 2024 Q1
% ∆ Yr. Ago
Index # 2024 Q1
% ∆ Yr. Ago
Index # 2024 Q1
% ∆ Yr. Ago
Index # 2024 Q1
% ∆ Yr. Ago
1757
-10.4
1918
-15.1
1149
-4.5
1505
-7.3
1896
-12.7
Description: • Presents index values for online job advertising for Stevens Point, Wausau, Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, and Merrill Analysis: • Help Wanted Advertising is a leading indicator of local labor market conditions. • All areas experienced a decline in online job advertising over the year indicating a softening labor market.
Table 9 Unemployment Claims - Portage, Marathon, and Wood Counties (First Quarter 2024) Portage Marathon Wood Weekly Average 2024 Q1 % ∆ Yr. Ago Weekly Average 2024 Q1 % ∆ Yr. Ago Weekly Average 2024 Q1 % ∆ Yr. Ago
New Claims Total Claims
84
4.4 7.0
157 835
3.4 8.9
99
7.4
486
567
12.6
Description: • New Claims: Weekly average of new claims for First Quarter 2024 • Total Claims: Weekly average of total claims for First Quarter 2024 Analysis: • Initial claims for unemployment insurance are often a good leading economic indicator in predicting changes in consumption spending. People who lose their jobs tend to cut back on their purchases. • The number of new and total claims have increased for the Central Wisconsin region over the last year indicating a less robust labor market.
Table 10 County Sales Tax Distribution (First Quarter 2024) Portage Marathon
Wood
2024 Q1 (x1000)
% ∆ Yr. Ago
2024 Q1 (x1000)
% ∆ Yr. Ago
2024 Q1 (x1000)
% ∆ Yr. Ago
County Sales Tax Distribution
$2,023.84
0.75
$4,175.43
3.51
$2,041.25
4.66
Description: • Tax collections in thousands of dollars. • The county sales tax rate of 0.5% is placed on retailers that make taxable sales. • Changes in county tax collections is a good indicator of changes in retail activity in Central Wisconsin. Analysis: • County sales tax collections increased modestly over the last year in the Central Wisconsin region. • Increased collections however may reflect changes in the overall price level than an increase in the volume of sales.
Central Wisconsin Report - Spring 2024
19
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog