Latest Research
December 2021 Utah Consumer Sentiment
Utah’s consumer sentiment declined by 1.5 points from November to December, decreasing to a year low of 75.4, according to the Kem C. Gardner Institute’s Utah Consumer Sentiment Survey. Utah consumer confidence has steadily declined from year highs experienced in March, as Utahns are increasingly becoming concerned about inflation and new waves of COVID variants.
USHE Data Book: The Costs and Benefits of Higher Education
As a large share of Utah’s state budget and a key input to economic development, higher education plays a significant role in the Utah economy and is associated with many individual and societal benefits.
Curbing the Youth Vaping Pandemic: A Review of How Utah’s Laws and Policies Compare Nationally and to Other States
Vaping, or the use of electronic cigarettes, is a public health issue both nationally and here in the state of Utah. Rates of vaping doubled nationally between 2017 and 2019, and Utah has experienced a significant increase over the past several years as well.
November 2021 Utah Consumer Confidence
Utah’s consumer sentiment fell in November, according to the Kem C. Gardner Institute’s Utah Consumer Confidence Survey. The University of Michigan measured a similar decline among Americans as a whole
The State of the State’s Housing Market
Utah's housing market faces a severe imbalance that creates record price increases for homeowners and renters. The COVID-19 pandemic made the housing shortage worse by disrupting supply chains for building materials and distorting demand through lower interest rates and increased liquidity. For renters, the path to ownership narrowed further. Rental vacancy rates dropped to record levels and rental rates increased dramatically in the large Wasatch Front counties. Analysts expect price acceleration and production to remain positive in 2022. A housing bubble looks unlikely.
Utah’s Demographics and COVID-19 Death Rates: A Data Update
Utah has a lower COVID-19 per-capita death rate (also called the crude death rate, or CDR) than the U.S. as a whole. The national cumulative CDR for the year of April 1, 2020, through March 31, 2020, was 167 deaths per 100,000 people, while the Utah rate was 65 deaths per 100,000 people. A 2020 report attributed a quarter of the CDR difference up through July 1, 2021, to Utah’s younger population.
October 2021 Utah Consumer Confidence
Utah’s consumer sentiment was largely unchanged between September and October, according to the Kem C. Gardner Institute’s Utah Consumer Confidence Survey. In their survey representing Americans as a whole, the University of Michigan likewise found little change over the prior month.
Fact Sheet: Family Caregivers in Utah
A growing body of family caregivers in Utah provide unpaid care to family members or friends with health problems or disabilities. The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide key information about Utah's caregivers, their challenges, and the economic value they provide.
Ivory-Boyer Construction Report, 2nd Quarter 2021
Construction activity continued its record-breaking momentum into the second quarter of 2021. As the economy recovered, the rebound in commercial activity added to the record-setting residential market. The total permit-authorized construction value in Utah during the first half of 2021 was $6.71 billion, an increase of 35.2% over last year and a year-to-date record.
Preparing for the Future: The Potential Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19 on Utah’s Child and Youth Mental Health
Understanding the potential impact of these issues will be important to ensuring a thriving future for Utah’s children.