Blog
- Page 21
Quad Cities Chamber Blog
QC, That's Where the Quad Cities Chamber and area businesses in our family of communities are advancing regional prosperity and advocating for economic growth along the Mississippi River.
Want to stay informed? Here's how.
Glad you could join us. Welcome June & July new members!
August 1, 2023
The Quad Cities Chamber welcomed eight new members in June and July. Thank you to each of these organizations for their unique contributions and investment in our region's success- you are making an impact.
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
August 1, 2023
The US economy continues to grow at a healthy rate with a 2.4% increase in real GDP in the second quarter, up from 2.0% in the first quarter. As expected, the Federal Reserve raised short-term interest rates another 1/4 of a percent. Inflation appears to be cooling without much of a slowdown in economic activity. How long can this continue? Wall Street earnings and incoming economic data will hold clues.
Interns working hard, playing hard during InternQC
July 26, 2023
The Quad Cities is a place where residents work hard so that they can play hard, and the 2023 InternQC program has given summer interns a taste of the vibrant lifestyle offered in the region through events that showcase the QC's plethora of opportunities.
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
July 25, 2023
There was encouraging news on inflation in June as the Consumer Price Index rose by only 0.2%, which is lower than the average of the last few months. Core inflation and expectations of future inflation also moderated. The question still remains as to how this will impact the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions for the rest of the year.
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
July 21, 2023
The Quad Cities job market continues to be strong with 2500 jobs added during the month of May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Leisure and hospitality, government, and professional and business services saw the most gains. Manufacturing jobs are close to a fifteen-year high. However, labor force participation remains below pre-COVID levels.
Site consultant collaborates with QC leaders, provides valuable regional insights
July 18, 2023
The Chamber hosted a national site consultant to gain insights on the QC region’s competitive advantages and strategies leaders can implement to make the QC a more attractive place for business. Over two days, the Chamber team facilitated meetings between the consultant and QC regional executives and leaders through roundtable discussions, factory tours and meetings with regional executives.
2023 Bi-State Legislative Session Recap
July 12, 2023
The State Legislatures of both Iowa and Illinois have concluded their legislative sessions, with consequential legislation passing both Chambers in each state. As a bi-state regional economy, legislation passed in both states impacts all businesses. Here's the legislation you need to know about.
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
July 4, 2023
The employment numbers for the month of May in the Quad Cities were "good," but not quite "great." Manufacturing as well as leisure and hospitality have surpassed pre-pandemic employment, but the same cannot be said of all sectors. Labor force participation, especially in services other than leisure and hospitality has lagged even as job growth in the region continues to be robust.
Let’s Start Talking About Mental Health in the Workplace
June 22, 2023
With employees spending 40 or more hours in the workplace every week, employers are uniquely equipped to help their employees improve their mental health. So what can businesses do to more effectively promote mental health in their workplaces? We spoke with three mental health-focused Quad Cities organizations to gain their insights on this topic.
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
June 20, 2023
The Federal Reserve held their interest rate target constant last week on the heels of good news on the inflation front. Core inflation remains stubbornly high, which likely means more rate increases later in the year. Perhaps the best part of the news is that inflation expectations continue to fall.
New Business Legislation Emerges from Illinois Legislative Assembly
June 16, 2023
After three years of truncated legislative sessions, the Illinois General Assembly adjourned in the early morning of May 27. Several important pieces of legislation were tracked throughout this cycle involving port districts, healthcare and employment laws. Here is a summary of the top legislation we tracked this year that could impact the people and businesses of the Quad Cities.
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
June 12, 2023
Data on manufacturing was mixed in the month of April, with manufacturers' new orders up 0.4%. This was a smaller increase than in March, and was lower than analysts expectations. With industrial production varying across different sectors in the last few months, this complicates the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision this week.
Laborshed study surveying Quad Cities residents
June 6, 2023
The Quad Cities Chamber is partnering with Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) and Iowa Economic Development Authority to complete a Laborshed employment study for the Quad Cities area.
Petsche and Caves named Top 50 Economic Developers of 2023
June 6, 2023
Chamber Vice Presidents of Business & Economic Growth Chris Caves and Tami Petsche have been named to Consultant Connect’s 2023 list of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers.
Welcome to our new May 2023 Chamber Members!
June 5, 2023
The Quad Cities Chamber welcomed five new members in May. Thank you to each of these organizations for their unique contributions and investment in our region's success- you are making an impact.
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
June 5, 2023
The U.S. economy added another 339,000 jobs in May, but the report was not all good news. Manufacturing jobs were flat, and unemployment rose significantly. This complicates matters for the Federal Reserve's upcoming decision on interest rates. While the robust labor market suggests another rate increase may be in order, there is mounting evidence that the economy could slow down enough in the second half of 2023 to warrant a pause in rate hikes.
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
May 31, 2023
Last week, we examined the recent history of economic growth in the Quad Cities area. This week, we take a historical perspective on the local labor market. By looking at employment and labor force numbers, we can see how the Quad Cities labor market has been shaped by demographic factors as well as national events such as recessions and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Immigrants and refugees fueling a stronger Quad Cities
May 24, 2023
Diversity is one of the Quad Cities’ greatest assets in creating a stronger regional economy. There’s a rich history of immigrants settling in the region and building many of the industries that thrive here. Today, immigrants and refugees continue to be welcomed in the region, fueling the economy and fulfilling important roles within our community.
Iowa Lawmakers Close 2023 Session
May 24, 2023
The First Session of Iowa’s 90th General Assembly adjourned Thursday, May 5, 2023. Here is a summary of the top legislation we tracked this year that could impact the Quad Cities, organized by Chamber priorities.
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
May 22, 2023
This week, we look at the recent history of economic growth in the Quad Cities area. In the 20 years since 2001, real GDP growth in the Quad Cities Chamber service area has averaged about 0.8% per year, growing from about $21.3 billion to $24.9 billion (in 2012 dollars) over that period of time.
Category