state budget surplus
September 26, 2018
Louisiana has seen the largest increase in food insecurity in the last decade, with 1 in 6 households struggling each year to afford a consistent, healthy diet, according to a new report from the United States Department of Agriculture.
Number of the Day
23,400 - Number of jobs Louisiana is predicted to add in 2019, a 1.2 percent increase. (Source: Baton Rouge Advocate)September 25, 2018
The state’s $300 million budget surplus, spurred by higher-than-expected corporate and personal income tax collections and a small bump in oil and gas taxes, has prompted hand-wringing from some conservatives who now say that tax renewals that helped stabilize this year’s budget were unnecessary.
Number of the Day
5.9 - Percentage increase in personal income in Louisiana in the second fiscal quarter of 2018. (Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce)September 24, 2018
President Donald Trump is proposing to make life much harder for legal immigrants to the United States. A new federal rule - long anticipated but filed late Saturday night - would make it more difficult for people to stay in the country if they use “non-cash” forms of public assistance such as housing vouchers, food benefits or Medicare drug benefits.
Number of the Day
24,197 - Number of people on a waiting list for affordable housing vouchers in New Orleans in 2017-18. Overall, the New Orleans area saw a decrease in availability of affordable housing over the past year (Source: HousingNola, 2018 Report Card)September 21, 2018
The national unemployment rate is at a near-historic low, but it’s important to remember that unemployment statistics only count adults who are unemployed but actively looking for work.