Expert
Research & Analysis

The economic landscape is always changing. Understanding the short- and long-term trends that shape our economy is crucial for long-term success. Our experts track and analyze the most important trends and forces that shape the state and region and share their insights here.
Dive into our free analysis of trends and economic conditions in the region.
Wages & Income - Q2-2023 Outlook Report
September 6, 2023

Real Incomes and Hourly Earnings on the Rise

South Dakota’s personal income growth was strong in the first quarter of 2023, with its 5.1% inflation-adjusted annualized growth rate more than four times the national growth rate. Part of the rapid growth reflected a…

Macroeconomy - Q2-2023 Outlook Report
September 6, 2023

Momentum Holds but Economic Uncertainty Rising

Sometimes I like to think of the macroeconomy as an oceangoing container ship. There’s a lot of mass in those ships, a lot of momentum. The largest of these ships are nearly 450 yards long…

Labor Force - Q2-2023 Outlook Report
September 6, 2023

Labor Markets Continue to Run Hot

The labor market outlook continues to defy gravity. In our last issue, we shared how national and state labor markets generally outperformed expectations. We also discussed historic data revisions that indicated labor markets were healthier…

Housing Article
July 12, 2023

How We Track Housing Affordability

Affordable housing has emerged as a critical issue impacting individuals, families, and communities in South Dakota and across the United States. While the overall US housing market has experienced a noticeable slowdown in recent months,…

Regional
Research Publication
June 2, 2023

CO2 Pipelines Would Significantly Impact South Dakota Economy

The South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association worked with the Dakota Institute to analyze the potential economic impacts of two large CO2 pipeline projects. The pipelines would collect CO2 byproducts of corn-based ethanol production and transport…

Consulting | Economic Impact | Regional
Population Article
May 31, 2023

Migration Drives South Dakota Population Growth

After a long climb to finally recover to its 1930 population in 1990, South Dakota’s population has risen significantly to just over 900,000 in 2022.  Most recently, between July 2021 and July 2022, South Dakota…

Regional
Housing - Q1-2023 Outlook Report
April 3, 2023

As Prices Persist, Affordability Takes a Hit

While the housing market of 2022 will be remembered for its dramatic highs and lows on a national scale, these historic swings were amplified more so in distinct regional and local markets. The South Dakota…

Wages & Income - Q1-2023 Outlook Report
April 3, 2023

Inflation Continues to Erode Earnings

Workers in the private sector saw their average hourly earnings fall by $0.75 from December 2021 to December 2022 when controlling for inflation, according to recently released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Current…

Macroeconomy - Q1-2023 Outlook Report
April 3, 2023

National Economy Heats up While the State Economy Slows Down

Looking back to our first issue in late 2022, we saw the national and state economies gaining strength and confidence, though the heady days of 2021 were unlikely to return soon. The newest data from…