Newsroom
For all media inquiries, please contact:
Nick Thiriot
Communications Director
nick.thiriot@utah.edu
801-587-3717
News Releases
Utah ranked as the 9th most expensive housing market in the country in 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 July 8, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – The 2024-2025 edition of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s State of the State’s Housing Market report provides a detailed analysis of current housing market conditions in Utah. The report indicates that high but stable housing prices characterized the state’s housing market in 2024, with Utah ranking as the country’s 9th most expensive housing market that same year. Stable prices, however, offered little relief to potential homebuyers as high interest rates and housing prices excluded many households from homeownership. [...]
Utah Consumer Sentiment Increases in June
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 July 3, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – Utah’s consumer sentiment rose 1.5% in June, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment. This modest monthly change (from 81.1 in May to 82.3 in June) is well within the survey’s margin of error. A similar survey conducted by the University of Michigan found a significant change (16.3%) in sentiment during June among Americans as a whole. […]
Federal government owns 64.4% of Utah’s land, the second-highest share of federal land in the nation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 July 2, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – Utah’s federal, state, tribal, and private land ownership impacts economic development, public finance, recreation, culture, and conservation in important ways. A new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute shows that the state contains the second-highest percentage of federal land among all 50 states (64.4%). Just over one-fifth (21.1%) of land in Utah is privately owned, with the rest owned by the state (10.0%) or governed by tribal nations (4.5%). […]
Wasatch Front communities added nearly 37,000 new residents and nearly 18,000 new housing units between 2023 and 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Thiriot, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, nick.thiriot@utah.edu, 801-842-9150 June 30, 2025 (Salt Lake City) – Communities in the four Wasatch Front counties – Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, and Weber – added 36,730 new residents between 2023 and 2024, accounting for 72.9% of the state’s growth, according to the latest subcounty estimates released today by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and Utah Population Committee (UPC). The estimates detail both population and housing unit growth for the incorporated communities and census tracts in the state’s four most populous counties. […]
Recent Media Mentions
USU supported $1.4 billion to the state economy in 2023, says new study
SALT LAKE CITY — New data shows how beneficial Utah State University is for the statewide economy the research estimates USU’s financial boost to the state at more than a billion dollars. The study, conducted by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, marks the institute’s first economic report card of eight of Utah’s public colleges and universities across the state.
Utah maintains top credit rating as Moody’s affirms Aaa status amid strong growth, innovation
SALT LAKE CITY — Moody’s Ratings has reaffirmed Utah’s Aaa credit rating, citing the state’s robust economic growth, strong fiscal governance, and low debt levels. The agency announced Monday that Utah’s financial outlook remains stable, with the highest rating assigned to the state’s general obligation bonds, as well as continued high marks on lease revenue, education, and healthcare-related bonds.
Salt Lake City’s growth has been mammoth. How long can that last?
SALT LAKE CITY — However, "mammoth" could be the best way to describe Salt Lake City's growth right now. The U.S. Census Bureau recently named it Utah's fastest-growing city of 2024, while the University of Utah's Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute notes that it is home to about one out of every four jobs in the state.
More growth is coming with or without the 2034 Olympics. Organizers say the Games will only help Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah’s endeavor to host the 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics has been met with unprecedented enthusiasm within the state. One poll put the event’s approval rate at 79%. Still, naysayers exist. And among their chief concerns is the population growth — and ensuing traffic, water and housing issues — the focus on the state is likely to incite.
‘We desperately need to do more’: Utah Gov. Cox convenes mayors to urge more action on housing
SALT LAKE CITY – In the spirit of “collaboration” rather than preemption a dynamic that for several years now has undergirded policy discussions over what should be done to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis Gov. Spencer Cox invited mayors from across the state to the Governor’s Mansion in Salt Lake City on Thursday to talk.
Utah’s got growing pains. A new state council is supposed to help
SALT LAKE CITY – As more people move to the Beehive state, Utah’s resources are being stretched. Gov. Spencer Cox hopes a new executive order will address some of those growing pains. Cox announced the creation of the Blueprint for Utah’s Infrastructure, Land, and Development Coordinating Council on May 28. BUILD will bring together 12 state agencies and give 10 other entities like universities and municipalities the opportunity to add a representative if they choose to participate.
