Economic Indicators of the College Station-Bryan MSA, September 2020

Abstract

The Business-Cycle Index increased 2.5% from June to July. The national level of initial unemployment claims was 884,000 for the weeks ending on August 29 and September 5, the lowest initial claims since March 14. Initial claims in Texas and in the College Station-Bryan MSA increased slightly through the end of August, ending at 66,330 claims statewide and 380 in the local metropolitan area for the week ending on September 5. The local July unemployment rate decreased to 5.2% in July from 5.7% in June and was the second lowest among Texas metros. In April 2020, local employment in the Leisure and Hospitality industry declined by 3,200 workers compared to April 2019. By July, employment was down only 200 workers compared to July 2019. Inflation-adjusted taxable sales in the College Station-Bryan MSA increased from $331 million in June to $343 million in July 2020 but were still 3.1% lower than in July 2019. Air travel nationally and locally has increased since April. The number of travelers out of Easterwood Airport in August 2020 were 45% of the August 2019 number.