February 18, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – Utah’s consumer sentiment was unchanged at 91.3 in January, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment. A similar survey conducted by the University of Michigan measured a decline in sentiment among Americans as a whole during the same time (from 74.0 to 71.1, or 3.9% decline). […]

February 13, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – July 1, 2024 estimates produced by the Utah Population Committee indicate Utah’s population reached 3,506,838, an increase of 50,392 residents since July 1, 2023. These estimates reflect a post-COVID-19 era and moderately high growth from the last few years. […]

January 16, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – The financial technology industry (fintech) continues to transform the traditional financial services sector and introduce innovative business models across the globe. A new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute shows that in 2023, Utah’s 67 fintech companies created nearly 8,000 jobs and produced more than $1 billion in total annual wages. […]

January 14, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – Low water levels at Great Salt Lake continue to threaten Utah’s economic, ecological, and human health. Today, the Great Salt Lake Strike Team – a collaboration of technical experts from Utah’s research universities and state agencies – released their 2025 data and insights summary. Their authoritative analysis makes eminently clear four critical points: […]

January 10, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute today presented the 37th Economic Report to the Governor to the governor’s office at the 2025 Economic Outlook & Public Policy Summit hosted by the Salt Lake Chamber. The report highlights the resilience of the U.S. economy in 2024 and forecasts slowing, but not stalling, economic activity for 2025. […]

January 7, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – Utah’s military and defense industry substantially contributes to the state’s diverse economy. A new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute shows that the defense industry directly and indirectly supports over 173,000 jobs and contributed an estimated $22.2 billion in GDP in 2023. […]

December 16, 2024 (Salt Lake City) – Utah’s broad innovation ecosystem ranks high among U.S. states across various measures. A new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, co-led by the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah), shows the characteristics contributing to Utah’s success include the state’s higher education institutions, a well-trained workforce, social infrastructure, collaboration among innovation ecosystem actors, and a culture of innovation. […]

December 5, 2024 (Salt Lake City) – Utah’s consumer sentiment significantly increased in November (by 9.1%, from 80.7 in October to 88.1 in November), according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment. November sentiment in Utah shows the second-largest growth since November 2020. A similar survey by the University of Michigan found a much smaller change (1.8% increase) in sentiment among Americans during the same time (from 70.5 to 71.8). […]

December 3, 2024 (Salt Lake City) – In Utah, businesses pay various state and local taxes that support critical public services. These taxes include the corporate income tax, individual income tax, property tax, sales and use tax, unemployment insurance tax, and other taxes. In FY 2024, Utah businesses paid $8.1 billion in state and local taxes. Today, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute released Part Five of its visual guide series on tax modernization in Utah, aiming to help policymakers and the public better understand Utah’s business taxes. […]