economic policy

Fiscal Conditions in 2008

National League of Cities Research Brief on America’s Cities

Report Subtitle: 
National League of Cities Research Brief on America’s Cities
Publication Date: 
09/04/2008

Confronted with declining economic conditions driven by downturns in housing, consumer spending, and jobs and income, city finance officers report that the fiscal condition of the nation’s cities has weakened dramatically in 2008.

Among the findings of the National League of Cities’ latest annual survey of city finance officers are:

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Taxes: Myths and Realities

When talking about taxes, conservatives continue to characterize opponents of their tax policies as “socialists” who want to take money from the middle-class and give it away to the poor. Here are some facts you should know about the impact of tax policies enacted by the Bush administration and the realities behind conservative arguments about taxation. more »

The Stress Test

A State-by-State Assessment of America's Economic Health and a Prescription for Change

The Stress TestEconomists and politicians debate whether or not we’re technically in a recession, but most Americans feel we’ve been in a recession for years.

The Campaign for America’s Future has designed "The Stress Test" to show how the economy affects working families. By assessing the condition of the job market, housing, health care, and household costs on a state-by-state basis over time, "The Stress Test" illustrates the troubles families face. Use this report to talk about the real impact of conservative policies and need for a new, progressive economic strategy.

» Read the full report (PDF)

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Eric Lotke's picture

CAF STAFF

Mass Layoffs reach new heights

In February, 1,672 mass layoff events resulted in 177,374 filings for unemployment insurance, seasonally adjusted. Both were the highest since 2003, and the highest in any month since September 2005 (reflecting the impact of Hurricane Katrina). Over the month, mass layoff events and initial claims rose 234 and 33,263, respectively.

Source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Mass Layoffs in February 2008." http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/mmls.pdf

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