“The January numbers came in stronger, not gangbusters, just stronger.”
Brian G. Long is Director of Supply Management Research in the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University. He reports new orders and production are up.
“Automotive is our primary cyclical industry in West Michigan, so it's obviously good news that cars and light trucks are still selling reasonably well.”
An area reflecting modest negativity is the region’s unemployment rate.
“The official numbers out of Lansing are starting to pick up, and some of our units are now posting some noticeably higher rates of unemployment.”
As inflation drifts higher, Long anticipates the Federal Reserve will maintain policy supporting higher interest rates.