Southwest Economy
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 09, 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 01, 2025
Economic Indicators
Texas Economic Indicators
The Texas economy expanded in March. Employment and earnings both rose. The April Texas Business Outlook Surveys showed a notable decline in company outlooks.
April 30, 2025
Economic Surveys
Growth resumes in Texas service sector, but company outlooks deteriorated further
Texas service sector activity grew slightly in April, according to business executives responding to the Texas Service Sector Outlook Survey. The revenue index, a key measure of state service sector conditions, rose three points to 3.8, indicating a small increase in revenue.
April 29, 2025
Economic Surveys
Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey
Texas factory activity continued to rise in April. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, was largely unchanged. Other measures of manufacturing activity signaled contraction, however.
April 28, 2025
Dallas Fed Economics
Job cyclicality provides timely signals on Texas, U.S. business cycle
The cyclicality of industries and their behavior provide early indications of economic turning points in Texas and the U.S. and provide a timelier view than other data that are widely used to confirm downturns and expansions.
April 22, 2025
Texas Employment Forecast
The Texas Employment Forecast indicates jobs will increase 1.5 percent in 2025, with an 80 percent confidence band of 0.8 to 2.2 percent.
April 18, 2025
Southwest Economy
Water restrictions, conservation a 24/7 routine in Abilene and the Big Country
Steve Estes, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Taylor County, offers his perspective on how ranchers, farmers and city dwellers can collectively work to ensure that the area makes the best decisions regarding precious water resources
April 18, 2025
Southwest Economy
Shoring up water supply, curbing demand key to Texas’ future growth
Funding for water infrastructure improvements has emerged as a priority for the Legislature during its 2025 legislative session. Absent changes to policy, Texans could face significant water shortages during droughts and constraints on future growth and economic development.
April 16, 2025
Welcome remarks for the Outlook for North American Trade and Immigration conference
This conversation comes at a pivotal time as governments adjust trade, immigration and other policies.
April 10, 2025