The University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, housed in the David Eccles School of Business, is Utah’s premier economic and public policy research institute. We develop and share economic, demographic, public finance, and public policy research that sheds light and helps state leaders make informed decisions. We serve as a vital gathering place for policy leadership that benefits all Utahns.
Latest Research
State and County Population Estimates: Comparing Census Bureau and Utah Population Committee, 2025
Two primary sources of state and county-level population estimates in Utah are the Utah Population Committee (UPC) and the U.S. Census Bureau. This fact sheet summarizes the differences between the Census Bureau and Utah Population Committee estimates for Utah counties.
Utah Economic Council Forecast, March 2026
The Utah Economic Council, a collaborative endeavor of the David Eccles School of Business and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, prepares its forecast quarterly for selected economic and business indicators.
Starting Out in Salt Lake City: Data on Young Adults
Over 1 in 6 Salt Lake City residents are between 18 and 24 years old, shaping the city through distinct housing, employment, and college enrollment patterns.
March 2026 Zions Bank Consumer Sentiment
Utah’s consumer sentiment increased 3.1% in March, according to the Zions Bank Consumer Sentiment Survey. This increase (from 79.1 in February to 81.5 in March) is within the survey’s margin of error. A similar survey conducted by the University of Michigan found that sentiment among Americans as a whole fell 5.8% in March.
Commuting in Utah: 2024 Travel Times
Utahns benefit from shorter commute times than the rest of the nation, with only 14 other states reporting faster average daily commutes. About 7 in 10 Utah commuters (70.5%) report traveling to work in under 30 minutes, with a statewide average travel time of 23.2 minutes. However, daily commutes are gradually growing longer, matching national increases since 2021.
