Originally published on Fri December 2, 2011 8:34 am
The nation's unemployment rate fell to 8.6 percent in November from 9 percent in October as payrolls went up by 120,000 jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says.
The road back from the recession for some towns in New Hampshire could be slowed due to deep budget cuts affecting highway expansion and bridge maintenance.
The state Department of Transportation is grappling with budget cuts of $30 million in motor vehicle fees and a likely $40 million cut in federal highway funds each year.
“Our $140 million 10-year plan is now a $100 million plan,” says Transportation Commissioner Christopher Clement. “The document is a lot slimmer than it was five years ago.”
The Bi-Partisan Congressional Super-committee failed last week to reach a deficit reduction agreement. That means automatic spending cuts kick in, in twenty thirteen…and President Obama says he’ll veto any attempt avoid those. We talk with two economists about what this all means…and about the rocky political and economic roads ahead.
A forecast released today warns that the New Hampshire economy is skating on thin ice.
The report from the New England Economic Partnership says that acceleration from private-sector job creation has been partially offset by a shrinking public sector.
Economist Dennis Delay also says that employment and the housing market have not rebounded as quickly as expected.
He says that if growth had continued at the same pace as in 2008, there would be fifty-thousand more jobs in the state than there are today.
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative faces an uncertain future in some states. New Jersey plans to end its participation and New Hampshire has considered legislation that would do the same.
But a new analysis shows the carbon dioxide cap and trade program has saved consumers money and created jobs. Under the program, power producers buy pollution allowances at auction for each ton of carbon dioxide they emit.
