A comprehensive list of recently added postings on Dallasfed.org.
The Conventional Impulse Response Prior in VAR Models with Sign Restrictions
Some studies have expressed concern that the Gaussian-inverse Wishart-Haar prior typically employed in estimating sign-identified VAR models may be unintentionally informative about the implied prior for the structural impulse responses. This paper discusses how this prior may be reported and makes explicit what impulse response priors a number of recently published studies specified, allowing the readers to decide whether they are comfortable with this prior.
May 9, 2025
In Abilene, Big Country success depends on small-town community
Abilene anchors a 19-county rural region dubbed “The Big Country” by early pioneers. Collaboration was a consistent theme in Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan's conversations with community and business leaders during a recent trip to the area.
May 9, 2025
Waco building on ‘Fixer Upper,’ Baylor notoriety to reinvent itself
Malcolm Duncan, whose tenure as Waco mayor coincided with the city’s emergence as a destination and area economic hub, discusses how the city has changed and where its future fortunes and challenges lie.
May 9, 2025
Weekly Economic Index
The WEI is currently 2.50 percent, scaled to four-quarter GDP growth, for the week ended May 03 and 2.31 percent for April 26.
May 8, 2025
Dallas−Fort Worth Economic Indicators
The Dallas−Fort Worth economy expanded in March. Employment grew across most sectors, and average earnings picked up.
May 6, 2025
Austin Economic Indicators
Austin employment rose in March, paired with a stable unemployment rate, and wages increased. Suburban office vacancies increased in the first quarter, while downtown office vacancies declined.
May 6, 2025
Houston Economic Indicators
Houston’s labor market continued to expand moderately with employment increasing 2.2 percent in the first quarter. Unemployment remained stable in March. Despite strong employment data, leading indicators of local economic activity are signaling a potential slowing of the regional economy over the remainder of 2025.
May 2, 2025
El Paso Economic Indicators
Employment in El Paso grew slightly in March, and the unemployment rate ticked up. Single-family housing permits fell. Trade volumes jumped in February.
May 2, 2025
San Antonio Economic Indicators
San Antonio payrolls and wages grew in March. Retail sales tax revenue continued to fall on a yearly basis. The unemployment rate remained the same.
May 1, 2025
Energy Indicators
Energy executives surveyed by the Dallas Fed reported an increase in the price of oil needed to justify drilling, as economic uncertainty and planned production increases from OPEC+ nations pushed oil prices down.
May 1, 2025