The Wausau area economy continues to lead the economic expansion in Central Wisconsin.  With an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent, and employment growth of 3.9 percent, one can clearly understand that the local economy is expanding at a very healthy rate.  Almost all other indicators of economic performance were positive for the greater Wausau area.

     Good news comes to us in Table 7.  Industrial sector employment increased in each category.  Services led the expansion by adding 900 positions.  Manufacturing, trade and construction grew by 700, 600 and 600 positions respectively.  Government payrolls lagged the other sectors growing just by 100 jobs.

     Retailer confidence (Table 8) is for all intent and purposes at the same level as in December.  When asked about total sales and store traffic, the merchants said that matters had improved.  Further, they feel that the future will bring a modest improvement in sales and traffic.

     A barometer of local labor market conditions is the help wanted advertising  (Table 9) index.  This indicator of future employment possibilities suggests that local residents will continue to enjoy a strong labor market.  The mark of 163 means there are 1.6 jobs being advertised for each job in the base year.  Further, a report by an independent employee provider indicates that Wausau area firms are in a strong hiring mode.

     Table 10 presents unemployment claims data for the greater Wausau area.  The number of new claims on a weekly basis fell from 449 to 418, or 6.9 percent over the year.  Likewise, good news can be reported for total claims.  Total claims fell even more than new claims.  In our year over comparison, total claims contracted from 2,909 to 2,510, or nearly 14 percent.  Thus, both measures strongly indicate that the economy is moving forward.

     Residential construction (Table 11) activity remains robust in the community.  The number of permits issued was 51 and their value is estimated to be around $5.7 million.  The number of housing units being added to the local stock was 56.  Residential alteration permits hit 185 and this construction is valued at $1.3 million.  Rising incomes and relatively low interest rates are helping the situation.

     Nonresidential construction (Table 12) is presented without percentage changes because this type of activity is so inherently volatile.  The number of new permits was 1 and was estimated at $350 thousand.  The alteration activity was stronger in the area.  There were 43 alteration permits issued and they had a forecasted value of $6.8 million.  Two large alteration projects included in the figure are the expansions at Green Heck and Marshall Erdman & Associates.

     Table 13 gives financial data for the area.  Bank deposits total $2.1 billion and lending reached $1.7 billion in 1st Quarter 1999.  In November 1998 a bank merger took place which affected deposit and lending numbers in the area.  Thus, numbers after the merger are not compatible to pre-merger figures.  By the end of the year comparability will be restored.