Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia: Wisconsin’s economic outlook bleak

Wisconsin ranked 49^th in the nation in the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s April economic indicator index. Only Wyoming ranked lower, and Wisconsin was one of only five states showing contraction. The index is derived from monthly state employment reports (which are usually prone to heavy revisions), average hours worked in manufacturing, the state unemployment rate, salary and wage trends, housing permits, and initial unemployment insurance claims. Economists caution against putting too much weight on one month’s figures.