What’s Driving the US Economy? A County-Level View

If you’re looking for a good single source on what’s happening on the ground with the US economy, I can highly recommend the National Association of Counties’ new report, County Economies 2024: Under the Hood of National Economic Trends.  This excellent research report offers a bottom-up look at what’s happening in America’s counties, with a focus on key challenges (e.g. housing, childcare), and primary drivers of economic growth and decline. Easy access to transportation and trade routes and a lower cost of living are the primary factors driving county economic growth, while housing and health care costs are key drivers of economic stagnation.  If you want to understand what’s happening “under the hood” in local economies across America, this is a good place to start.