Ray Perryman Column

PERRYMAN: Despite struggles, Texas still tops in jobs

M. Ray Perryman

A nother flurry of headlines and reports caught my eye over the past few days, as they placed Texans among the worst off. The basis was a recent study by the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), which ranked Texas 41st among all states in...... Full story

PERRYMAN: Playing the ‘shale game’ key to U.S. economic growth

M. Ray Perryman

Shale formations are a crucial component of the nation’s oil and natural gas supplies. Estimates of total potential production are rising rapidly over time as new fields are discovered and explored. Exploration and production, lease bonuses...... Full story

PERRYMAN: Group looks at long-term availability of water in Texas

M. RAY PERRYMAN

In spite of some relief during the winter in the form of much-needed rainfall, Texas remains in the midst of the worst drought on record. Agricultural losses for 2011 were in the billions (we topped $5 billion in August), wildfire losses hit $100...... Full story

PERRYMAN: Recent statistics about poverty should be re-examined

BY: M. RAY PERRYMAN

Shortly before Christmas, you may have seen a depressing headline indicating almost half of all Americans are living in poverty or close to it. The Associated Press (AP) article appeared in hundreds of online and print outlets as well as being...... Full story

PERRYMAN: Effects of Iran’s threat to close waterway overstated

BY: M. RICK PERRYMAN

Tensions are once again rising in the Middle East, with the latest salvo centered on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Efforts to stop Iranian nuclear weapons development have led to a variety of sanctions by the United Nations as well as the United...... Full story

PERRYMAN: Past year one of slow, shaky recovery for Texas, U.S.

M. RAY PERRYMAN

As we go to press, 2011 is rapidly waning. The past year saw economic recovery, though at a snail’s pace. However, the economy did survive some significant shocks without sliding back into recession. A few of the major events and trends of...... Full story

PERRYMAN: Growth forecast all around Lone Star State

M. Ray Perryman

As I’ve mentioned in recent columns, The Perryman Group’s latest forecast calls for Texas to continue to outperform the nation in the coming years. Unemployment and relatively weak housing markets remain an issue in some areas, but most...... Full story

PERRYMAN: S&P fires a warning shot across the EU’s bow

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services placed its long-term sovereign debt ratings for 15 eurozone nations on CreditWatch with negative implications earlier this week. As the pre-eminent agency monitoring the default risk associated with debt...... Full story

PERRYMAN: Black Friday numbers could be good for economy

BY: M. RAY PERRYMAN

I am going to begin with a brief moment of personal privilege. I was more than humbled and overwhelmed last week to be named “Texan of the Year” by the Texas Legislative Conference. It is a rare day that I am speechless, but this one...... Full story

PERRYMAN: How big an issue is supercommittee failure?

Unfortunately, you’re probably not overly surprised by the failure of the congressional “supercommittee” charged with working out a deficit (and therefore ultimately debt) reduction plan. Formed in the wake of debt ceiling...... Full story

PERRYMAN: Obama punts on energy security with Keystone move

BY: M. RAY PERRYMAN

Last week, the U.S. Department of State and President Obama put off a final decision on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline connecting oil supply regions in Canada with U.S. refineries and distribution networks. The project was announced in July 2008...... Full story

PERRYMAN: The short-term U.S. economic forecast: modest growth

BY: M. RAY PERRYMAN

The pace of recovery of the U.S. economy continues to falter. Lackluster job growth and uncertainty over fiscal policy, health care costs and the debt ceiling have taken a toll, as have financial disruptions in Europe and Japan and the political...... Full story

PERRYMAN: 7 billion and climbing — is there cause for worry?

BY: M. RAY PERRYMAN

Global population just topped 7 billion last week (or is about to do so, depending on which estimate you believe). This milestone set off reactions ranging from celebrations to doomsday predictions related to our planet’s ability to support so...... Full story

PERRYMAN: A look at 50 years of Texas employment change

BY: M. RAY PERRYMAN

As I mentioned last week, I recently spoke at an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Texas Economic Development Council, a nonprofit association that works to increase opportunities for all Texans by supporting economic development. In...... Full story

PERRYMAN: 50 years of Texas economic change

BY: M. RAY PERRYMAN

It was recently my honor and privilege to give a speech at an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Texas Economic Development Council. This non-profit association works to increase opportunities for all Texans by supporting economic...... Full story