MassBenchmarks Current and Leading Index
January 2017
Economic growth in Massachusetts appears to have decelerated in the fourth quarter to a more pronounced degree than was the case nationally. This may reflect tighter labor force capacity constraints in the state as unemployment rates are very low, indicating very little slack in the labor market which may be making it difficult for some employers to fill open positions. Wage and salary incomes also appeared to decline in the fourth quarter after experiencing strong growth earlier in the year. Indicators of spending by households and businesses remained strong during the final quarter of 2016.
