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(March 2025) Arkansas continues to top the U.S. average in jobs creation since state policymakers first cut the state income tax rate starting in January 2015, according to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Arkansas nonfarm payroll employment, the broadest state-level economic indicator expanded 14.7% versus the national average (13.2%) between […]

(March 28, 2025) Arkansas led the nation (#1) in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for 4Q-2024, according to a news release today from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).(1) Arkansas also led the U.S. in real GDP growth in 3Q-2024(2), an unprecedented development for the state’s economy. The BEA release states, “Real gross […]

(December 2024) More than 120,000 Arkansas students attend charter, home or private schools, or are enrolled in a public school choice program in the current school year, state Department of Education and other records show. The niche school choice market has grown from 66,627 students (2013) to 121,421 in the 2024-25 school year.

(October 2024) A public forum on the state income tax will be held Tuesday, November 19 at 5 p.m. at the Red & Blue Event Center (1415 W. 7th Street) in Little Rock.  The venue is conveniently located close to the state Capitol and policymakers are expected to participate in the discussion, “Arkansas Tax Policy: […]

(September 2024) Arkansas policymakers delivered the second biggest income tax cut in the U.S. in the last decade, a 43.5% reduction that narrowly trailed national leader Arizona (44.9%) since January 1, 2015.

September 2024) The chart shows top rates in 41 states with an income tax from lowest to highest.  Sources: Federation of State Tax Administrators (2015) and Tax Foundation (2024).

(September 2024) Arkansas’ job creation rate is greater than the U.S. average since policymakers launched a new fiscal policy to reduce tax rates, reversing a trend that saw the state trail the nation in two earlier 21st century expansions, Bureau of Labor Statistics data show.

(July 19, 2024) Today’s monthly jobs report provides further evidence of strong growth within Arkansas’ construction sector, a development noted in media reports citing Policy Foundation research.

(July 2024) The incredible growth of Arkansas’ Construction sector illustrates the importance of infrastructure to economic development.(1)  

(June 25, 2024) Today’s monthly jobs report provides further evidence of strong growth within Arkansas’ Construction sector, a development noted last week in a Policy Foundation research memo.