After a year of virtually no growth, the Wausau area economy began to inch forward in the first quarter. Led by a slowly improving manufacturing sector, Marathon County recorded a net gain in jobs on a year-to-year basis. Other evidence of modestly improving local conditions can be found in this section of the report. Tables 7-14 contain information on local labor, retail, construction and financial markets.

     Of Marathon County's major sectors, only services showed a job loss when compared to March of 1985 (Table 7). Service employment fell by 400, all of which occurred in the financial services industry. Led by strength in the lumber and wood products industry, manufacturing payrolls rose 2.9%. Trade and construction employment also edged forward, while the number of government jobs was unchanged.

     Wausau's major retailers reported a pick up in sales during the first quarter (Table 8). The index measuring recent sales- improved eight points. Retailers also appear more confident about future sales, as indicated by a strong increase in the expected sales index.

     Help wanted advertising surged well ahead of the year earlier volume (Table 9). The index now stands at 138.3 compared to the 1985 figure of 102.1. Rising help wanted advertising is another sign of improving local conditions.

    A major change in the administration of local public assistance claims has reduced the short run usefulness of Table 10 but should make it a more valuable indicator when comparisons are possible. Claims are now processed at a central office designed to serve all of Marathon County. Initially this change will inflate the number of claims but eventually make it a better measure of local financial stress.

    The unemployment claim data has also gone through a recent reporting change     (Table 11). Beginning in the fourth quarter of 1985, the Medford area was added to the figure. After accounting for this difference, initial unemployment claims are roughly comparable to a year ago and total unemployment claims are down slightly.

     Despite sharply lower mortgage rates, new home construction in the Wausau area was below the level of a year ago (Table 12). The amount of activity was light in both years because of winter weather conditions. On the positive side, residential alteration activity picked up during the quarter. The number and estimated value of permits each rose substantially.   

     Although there were no new permits for major projects, the nonresidential construction figures show a healthy gain over 1985's first quarter (Table 13). Strong gains, from a very small base, were recorded in all categories. An estimated $785,000 worth of new structures are to be added to the capital stock of the local economy.

     Bank deposits inched up during the first quarter (Table 14). Deposits rose .6%, to put the total value 7.2% above the year earlier level. On the other hand, bank loans surged 4.5% during the quarter putting total loans 7.7% above the March 1985 level.