Southwest Economy
Fast-growing Texas metros offer blueprint to handle U.S. housing shortage
Cullum Clark, director of the Bush Institute–SMU Economic Growth Initiative and an adjunct professor of economics at Southern Methodist University, discusses his recent report, “Build Homes, Expand Opportunity: Lessons from America’s Fastest-Growing Cities.”
November 17, 2025
Southwest Economy
Texas economy cools as concerns about tariffs, uncertainty persist
The Texas economy appears to be cooling following an upturn during the summer. The TBOS headline indexes of manufacturing production and services revenue weakened in September and October, following a brief late -summer rebound.
November 14, 2025
Southwest Economy
Has the opioid crisis peaked in Texas and the U.S.?
After years of mounting deaths and costs from opioid addition, recent declines in both Texas and the nation suggest the worst may have passed.
November 10, 2025
Economic Indicators
Texas Economic Indicators
Growth in the Texas economy appears to be slowing. The October Texas Business Outlook Surveys indicated subdued job growth in manufacturing but contracting employment in the service sector. Wage growth remained modest.
November 04, 2025
Dallas Fed Economics
Batteries, solar help keep the lights on in Texas but more needed
Many Texas residents remain skeptical about the reliability of the electric grid since massive dayslong outages in February 2021. Notably, the power supply situation has since improved, with capacity added over the past two years, primarily from solar and a tripling of battery storage capacity.
November 04, 2025
Dallas Fed Communities
Texas economic growth outpaces the nation, but are small businesses keeping up?
Given Texas’ strong economic performance compared with the U.S., one might think the state’s small businesses would outperform those nationwide.
October 31, 2025
Southwest Economy
Overflowing U.S. shale gas increasingly streams to Mexico and onto global markets
Huge volumes of imported shale gas from the United States have provided the ample supply for Mexico’s growing energy needs, keeping power prices down for industries and households.
October 31, 2025
Economic Surveys
Texas service sector activity weakens further
Texas service sector activity contracted further in October, according to business executives responding to the Texas Service Sector Outlook Survey.
October 28, 2025
Economic Surveys
Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey
Texas factory activity continued to expand in October, according to business executives responding to the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey.
October 27, 2025
Southwest Economy
Immigration crackdown likely contributing to weak Texas job growth
Findings from the Dallas Fed Texas Business Outlook Surveys (TBOS) suggest immigration policy changes will negatively affect the ability to hire and retain foreign-born workers at one in five Texas businesses this year.
October 17, 2025