The new SCOPE, Statistical Composite Peoria Economy, report shows slow growth from a year ago but troubling signs ahead. Bernard Goitein of Bradley University is the author, he says the report does contain what at first seems a contradiction, more people are working compared to a year ago, but there aren't any more jobs.
Goitein says there are the increased number of residents working kept pace with jobs, both going up a modest 1-tenth of a percent. Home sales in the 3rd quarter were nearly 12% greater than one year ago, and the inventory kept stable. Other findings in the SCOPE Report, shows manufacturing jobs declining 2.5% from last year, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%. That's down from nearly 7.5% last fall.