$31.3 millions.

• Position: STATEWIDE: Vital signs - Residential buildings economic reports - Brief article - Statistical data

Annual cost of operating an advanced-manufacturing plant in North Carolina, 10th-lowest among the 48 contiguous states, according to a recent study by Boyd, a corporate site-selection company. Estimates are based on a 225,000-square-foot plant with 500 workers. South Carolina was the lowest at $30.1 million. New Jersey was highest at $39.8 million.

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMIT VALUATIONS (MILLION) (YEAR TO DATE) 17-JUNE 16-JUNE % CHANGE ASHEVILLE $269.9 $238.7 13.1% CHARLOTTE-CONCORD-GASTONIA 1956.3 1808.7 8.2 DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL 422.4 457.8 (7.7) FAYETTEVILLE 80.9 88.4 (8.4) GREENSBORO-HIGH POINT 313.2 323.4 (3.1) RALEIGH 1464.4 1205.4 21.5 WILMINGTON 287.2 179.4 60.1 WINSTON-SALEM 171.7 127.6 34.5 source: Census Bureau UNEMPLOYMENT RATES N.C. STATEWIDE RATE 4.2% U.S. RATE 4.4% Note: Table made from line graph. HIGHEST SCOTLAND 7.6% EDGECOMBE 7.3 WILSON 7.3 HALIFAX 7.0 WARREN 6.4 LOWEST BUNCOMBE 3.2% ALEXANDER 3.5 HENDERSON 3.6 GRANVILLE 3.6 CHATHAM 3.6 source: N.C. Department of Commerce, Labor 6 Economic...