The regional economy closed out 2013 on a positive note, according to the fourth quarter report released April 28 by the Center for Business Research and Economic Development (CBRED) at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith.

 

Dr. Kermit Kuehn of Fort Smith, center director, stated that the Fort Smith Regional Economic Outlook Report provides, as in previous issues, a summary analysis of the regional economy and consumer sentiment for the fourth quarter for the five-county Fort Smith Metropolitan Statistical Area.

 

“The overall jobs picture for the area economy continued to improve at the close of 2013, based on the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics,” Kuehn said, “and retail sales remained positive.”

 

Auto sales were also solid over Q4 2012, but residential real estate was more of a mixed bag, according to the report.

 

The report also examined the prospects for the regional economy over the next 5-10 years.

 

“Attempting to see the future is always messy, but I wanted to look at those factors which will be important determinants of our future and see what they might tell us,” Kuehn said.

 

This report was sponsored by Arvest Bank. For more information, contact Kuehn at 479-788-7938 or at kermit.kuehn@uafs.edu.