Indianapolis.

• Author: Marcus, Morton J.
• Position: Economic outlook for Indianapolis, Indiana - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

As of the week of September 11th, Indianapolis employment was still running ahead of the same month a year earlier (see Figure 1). More recent data are not available as we go to press.

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The nine county metro area had 8,500 more jobs in September 2001 than in 2000. This was a shallow 0.9 percent increase over a year earlier and ranked 100th among the nation's 275 metro areas. But in a Midwestern perspective, the Indianapolis metro area looked far better, ranking 17th of 75 metro areas, with only one larger metro area doing better (Kansas City ranked 6th).

Among Indiana metro areas, Indianapolis had no peer. Only Muncie showed an increase (0.3 percent) in jobs while each of the other metro areas declined in jobs over the year. The difference between Indianapolis and the rest of the state is shown in Figure 2. In total employment and key sectors, Indianapolis outperformed the rest of Indiana and even the nation.

Business and personal services accounted for nearly 3,000 of the 8,500 jobs added in the Indianapolis metro area (see Figure 3). Manufacturing was mixed, with job gains in non-durable goods exceeding the losses of durable manufacturing.

[FIGURE 3 OMITTED]

The strengths of the past year should be a good guide to the year ahead. Added stimulus from security spending will boost the services area and might reverse the loss in durable goods. In addition, the insurance...