I wrote a local economic-year-in-review story for today’s paper, based on four indicators that local development director Bryan Hisel said he uses to judge the status of the economy. Here’s an expanded look at some year-end economic indicators, with a comparison to 2008.
| 2008 | 2009 | % Change | |
| Taxable sales in Mitchell ZIP code | $476,400,294.68 | $478,800,005.81 | 0.5% |
| Municipal sales tax due to Mitchell | $9,887,922.04 | $9,615,718.77 | -2.75% |
| Building permits in Mitchell | 162 | 138 | -15% |
| Average monthly employment in Mitchell | 8,540 | 8,420 | -1% |
| Average monthly unemployment rate in Mitchell | 2.7% | 5.2% | 93% |
| New-house building permits in Mitchell | 20 | 21 | 5% |
| Sheriff’s deeds (the final act in a foreclosure) in Davison County | 32 | 31 | -3% |
| Home sales in Davison County | 234 | 198 | -15% |
| Statewide corn-for-grain production | 585.2 million bushels | 719.1 million bushels | 23% |
