States

Our district encompasses all of Ohio, western Pennsylvania, eastern Kentucky, and the northern panhandle of West Virginia. We find it useful to compare data at the state, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), county, city, or local levels, where the availability of data makes such comparisons possible. We compare data for the region against data at the national level, too, to gain a sense of how the states we represent in the Fourth Federal Reserve District are faring relative to the nation. Check out our data and analyses, which we update regularly.

States

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States

Pittsburgh—Employment Steadily Advancing
Employment in the Pittsburgh metro area expanded at a slow and steady pace, and the unemployment rate declined slightly. The healthcare, construction, and manufacturing sectors accounted for most of the net job gains. Read More
Lexington—Regaining Momentum?
Recent data suggest conditions improved in the first half of 2019 for the Lexington metro area. A low unemployment rate combined with an increase in labor force participation may signify a resumption of employment growth. Read More
An Uneven Recovery: Home Lending in the Fourth District by Race and Income
Focusing on seven counties across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky, our researchers used Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data to examine application and origination activity by income and race during the past 27 years (1990–2016). In a 13-year span preceding and following the Great Recession (2004–2016), three trends were consistent across all seven counties. Read More
The Opioid Epidemic and Its Effects: What We Know
With drug overdoses being the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50, Cleveland Fed researchers examine the opioid epidemic’s effect on the region. Read their findings.
Labor Market Tightness across the United States since the Great Recession
Though labor market statistics are often reported and discussed at the national level, conditions can vary quite a bit across individual states. We explore differences in these labor market conditions across US states before and after the Great Recession using a ratio of the number of unemployed workers to job vacancies. We show that the intensity of the adverse effects of the recession and the strength of the recovery varied geographically at all points in the process. We also demonstrate that wage growth is delayed until the ratio of unemployed workers to job vacancies returns to prerecession levels. Read More
Unemployment, Vacant Properties, Population Decline: Finding Solutions in Dayton
Explore three ways community leaders in southern Ohio are responding to persistent challenges. Might they work in your region? Read More

Recent Articles

Connectivity is Critical: What We Learned From Three Rural Counties

No county is without challenges, but those in rural areas face a unique set of difficulties. Studying three of our region’s most economically challenged counties revealed that being connected—in a variety of ways—is crucial for success. Read More
Lexington—Regaining Momentum?

Recent data suggest conditions improved in the first half of 2019 for the Lexington metro area. A low unemployment rate combined with an increase in labor force participation may signify a resumption of employment growth. Read More
Pittsburgh—Employment Steadily Advancing

Employment in the Pittsburgh metro area expanded at a slow and steady pace, and the unemployment rate declined slightly. The healthcare, construction, and manufacturing sectors accounted for most of the net job gains. Read More
Homestead Program Is a Land Contract Success Story

Land contracts, when appropriately administered, allow low-income individuals who might not qualify for conventional bank-financed mortgages a chance to become homeowners. Read More
Cleveland—Slow Growth and Falling Unemployment

Cleveland’s economy continues to improve, with slow employment growth and a steady drop in the unemployment rate. Read More