State economists lower growth projection from 1.6 to 1.5 percent

State economists lower growth forecast

Mississippi’s state economists have pulled back on an already-weak economic forecast for the rest of 2016, projecting that the state’s economy will grow only 1.5 percent instead of the 1.6 percent previously predicted.

The new report from state economists includes at least some good news on jobs, forecasting a 1 percent increase in payroll employment for the remainder of the year. If this occurs, it would be only the second annual increase in employment in Mississippi of 1 percent or more since 1999. Last year showed a 1.2 percent increase.

Daily Journal
10/31/16