As forecasted in previous reports, the Central Wisconsin economy, by most measures c economic performance, has done reasonably well over the course of a year during which the national economy was very soft. The data for this quarter, for the most part, are quit encouraging and suggest that the area has held up very nicely relative to other parts of the country. It is also encouraging that the national economy finally appears to be pulling itself up out of the economic doldrums. This can only be construed as good news for Wisconsin and our area Any improvement in the national scene should provide additional economic stimulus locally However, there are some very significant areas of economic concern in the nation and the region which are addressed in the Outlook section of this report. 

     Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates in the area rose by very modest amounts for last year's low rates (Table 2). Portage and Marathon Counties' unemployment rates both increased by 0. percent over the past twelve months, while the Wood County unemployment rate declined by 0. percent. In summary, the labor force weighted seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate for Central Wisconsin was unchanged from 1991, remaining at a solid 6.1 percent. The state posted ; somewhat lower 5.7 percent mark and the nation as a whole registered a rate of 7.7 percent Thus, using this particular yardstick of economic success, the area and the state continue to do better than the country as a whole. 

     Table 3 shows some very good news for the Central Wisconsin region. All three counties posted significant job increases from last year. For the record Central Wisconsin has gained over 5000 positions from a year ago, a growth rate of 4.1 percent. In contrast, Wisconsin payrolls grey by approximately 3.2 percent. The U.S. employment figure, however, expanded by an anemic 0: percent from March 1991. Once again, the state and the local area weathered the recessional storm much better than the country as a whole. 

     Nearly every industrial category listed in Table 4 expanded. Manufacturing, service construction, and government payrolls expanded by 1100, 1600, 300, and 500 respectively. Only trade was down by a scant 100 positions. Overall nonfarm industrial sector employment grew. from 118.8 thousand to 122.2 thousand, a 2.9 percent rate of growth. Thus, the economy did quite well in terms of job generation. 

     Table 5 tells us that the important key Central Wisconsin industries performed somewhat better than local industries in general. The total number of people employed in these exporting sectors reached 28.4 thousand, up from 27.9 thousand a year ago. Lumber and w products, and food processing expanded by 11.1 percent and 4.3 percent respectively, while p products and finance, insurance, and real estate contracted by 10 percent and 1.1 per respectively. Overall the employment in these sectors expanded by 1.8 percent or 500 jobs. 

     Table 6 presents the results of the Central Wisconsin business confidence s Essentially regional business leaders tell us that the national and regional economies have deteriorated from a year earlier; a neutral reading was given for each area of coverage. regard to the future this group is about more optimistic than last quarter. This panel, respondents to recent national polls measuring business confidence, projects a decidedly optimistic spirit.