Utah Economy
The Gardner Institute provides analysis and data-driven, context-specific insights about the Utah economy. We prepare in-depth studies on key Utah issues in partnership with stakeholders in the private sector and in state and local government. Our research provides vital information that decision-makers and the public use to help Utah prosper.
Utah’s Energy Sector
Utah’s energy sector continues to evolve as the forces of supply, demand, and technological change influence production and competition.
The State of Utah’s Travel and Tourism Industry
Utah's travel and tourism industry remained resilient in 2024 as inflation and gas prices calmed and recession fears dissipated over the year.
Utah 2025 Peer Support Specialist Workforce Survey
Peer support specialists play a foundational role in Utah’s mental and behavioral health systems. Survey results suggest ways to address challenges related to retention, burnout, and turnover.
How Income Measures Shape Policy
No standard definition for income exists, making it essential to use the appropriate definition for a particular application when conducting policy analysis.
Household Income in Utah
After adjusting for localized cost-of-living differences between states, Utah’s median household income of over $98,000 ranks highest in the country.
Utah’s Regional Universities: Definition, Benefits, and Reach
Regional universities offer a wide range of open admissions programs, including academic, career, and technical education, undergraduate associate and baccalaureate programs, and select graduate programs.
March 2025 Utah Consumer Sentiment
Utah’s consumer sentiment fell 8.0% in March, from 88.1 in February to 81.1, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment. A similar survey conducted by the University of Michigan measured an even larger decline (11.9%) in sentiment among Americans as a whole.
Utah Economic Growth 2024: GDP and Personal Income
Utah’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth led the nation in 2024, reaching 4.5%, compared to the nation’s robust 2.8% growth.
Gardner Business Review: A Retrospective of Utah’s Urban-Rural History
Ninety percent of Utah’s population qualifies as urban, making Utah one of the most urban states in the nation. This historical overview describes the process whereby a few counties became heavily urban while the majority of Utah’s counties remain rural today.
Utah/Federal Government Nexus Data Summary: Research Funding in Utah
Utah received $4.4 billion in federal research and development (R&D) funding in FY 2023. About 80% of this amount went to private businesses, 10% to higher education, and 9% to federal agencies within the state.
