Report Says La. Has Most 'Economic Momentum'
by Jan Moller - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

BATON ROUGE -- Rising personal incomes and a robust energy sector have combined to make Louisiana the top state for "economic momentum," according to a new report that tracks economic conditions in every state. The ranking by State Policy Reports, a Washington, D.C., newsletter affiliated with the National Governors Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures, marks the first time in at least a decade that Louisiana has topped the "index of state economic momentum." It's also the latest indicator that Louisiana has been less affected by the national recession than many other states, which have seen double-digit unemployment rates and plummeting home values. "Overall this ranking is in line with our perspective about Louisiana's economy since the beginning of the national recession: By any reasonable measure, Louisiana's economy has outperformed the South and the nation since the recession began," Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret wrote in response to e-mailed questions.