The Gardner Policy Institute provides data-driven, context-specific insights about Utah’s economy. We prepare in-depth studies on key Utah issues in partnership with stakeholders in the private sector and state and local government. The institute employs a diverse group of economists and analysts with specialties that include healthcare, energy and natural resources, tourism, and real estate and construction. Our research provides vital information decision makers and the public use to help Utah prosper.
Housing, Construction, & Real Estate
Salt Lake and Utah County Subcounty Estimates, 2010-2018
As Census 2020 approaches and data from Census 2010 become more outdated, the need for current housing and population estimates becomes more urgent. This is especially crucial in Utah, the highest growth state this decade and third fastest-growing from 2017 to 2018. This report presents annual subcounty population, household, and housing unit estimates for cities and census tract areas in Salt Lake and Utah [...]
The Year in Charts: Utah’s Housing Market 2018
The Year in Charts summarizes the performance of Utah’s housing market in 2018. The following 25 charts provide a record of current conditions, show long-term trends, and highlight important changes underway in the both the home building and real estate markets. The charts are divided into two major groups: (1) Residential Construction and (2) Residential Real Estate Sales.
The Economic Impacts of Utah Retirement Systems Pension Payments in the State of Utah in 2018
Utah Retirement Systems (URS) administers defined contribution and defined benefit (pension) retirement plans for employees of 476 state and local government entities. This report examines the economic impacts of defined benefit pension payments made by URS to Utah residents in 2018, and compares these impacts with those estimated in 2015.
Ivory-Boyer Construction Report, Year End 2018
Utah’s construction activity in the fourth quarter of 2018 tapered off. However, due to a strong start in the beginning of the year, the statewide value of construction totaled nearly $8.5 billion, a 3.3 percent increase from 2017. Residential construction remained the driving force behind Utah’s construction industry, comprising 61 percent of the state’s total construction value in 2018. This year saw a 5.5 [...]
February 2019 Economic Summary
The Utah economy exceeded expectations in 2018, adding a total of 48,500 new jobs over the year. An annual employment growth rate of 3.3% is on par with the state’s long-term average and is among the strongest in the nation. A tightening labor market (3.1 percent unemployment) applied upward pressure on personal income. Annual income per capita increased to $45,174, a 3.9 percent increase [...]
Washington County Temporary Resident Population Estimates, 2017
Washington County’s blend of outdoor recreation opportunities and retirement communities contribute to a large, but previously unknown number of temporary residents.
