November 20, 2015

It’s no secret that for many, the holiday shopping season starts well before the turkey and mashed potatoes ever hit the Thanksgiving table. Holiday sales are advertised earlier each year, with many retail stores announcing this week that they will open on Thanksgiving to get a jumpstart on the holiday shopping tradition known as Black Friday. Will consumers be able to shell out as much from their pockets as previous holiday seasons? How does the holiday shopping season impact the economy overall? What impact does it have when stores like REI and Nordstrom make pointed remarks about staying closed on Thanksgiving? James Wood, Ivory Boyer Senior Fellow at the U’s Policy Institute and David Eccles School of Business, can speak to retail sales data and the forecast for the economy as the holiday season gears up.
Phone: 801-581-7165 | Email: jim.wood@utah.edu

October 2, 2015

What are the most and least recession-recovered cities in the U.S.?  WalletHub recently released an analysis on the issue and University of Utah labor economist Peter Philips can speak about the findings —and why some areas of the country are rebounding faster than others. Philips can also speak on what community leaders can do to make communities “recession proof.”

Phone: 801-599-2374 | Email: philips@economics.utah.edu

September 9, 2015

All eyes are on Congress and a pending vote on the Iran Nuclear Deal that is expected to take place before Sept. 17. The deal calls for the U.S. to lift economic sanctions against Iran in return for Iran’s agreement not to develop nuclear weapons. Secretary of State John Kerry has said that the agreement would prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb, while others (mostly Republicans) in Congress have argued that Iran can’t be trusted to follow through on the deal. Earlier this week, news emerged that President Obama has secured enough votes to put the agreement in place. U law professor Amos Guiora is an expert on counterterrorism and national security. He is available to offer commentary on the Iran nuclear weapon deal and potential ramifications of any outcome. Guiora has written for the New York Times about his past involvement in prisoner release negotiations for Israel. He served 19 years in the Israel Defense Forces and was involved in the release of Palestinian prisoners in his role as a judge advocate general. Guiora can offer commentary on the question of national security in the middle east and what the deal will do to stabilize or not stabilize the middle east. He can also speak to the deal’s potential ramifications for the Islamic State group, what the deal means for other countries getting nuclear weapons and a host of other issues on this developing story.
Phone: 216-470-6386 | Email: amos.guiora@law.utah.edu

June 26, 2015

A recent study released by the NerdWallet financial website and based on 2013 U.S. census survey data, identifies the cities of Riverton, West Jordan and South Jordan among the top 10 cities nationally for income equality. In total, seven cities in Utah finished among the top 50 nationally. Pamela Perlich, senior research economist at the U’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research, identifies key demographic indicators as to why this is the case. Perlich notes these cities are homogeneous in terms of their home prices, housing stock, income levels and culture. Speaking to a broader picture, she also cites the trend of growing segregation in housing based on income across Salt Lake County and the state. Utah has been among the most equal distribution of household income in the nation. Perlich can offer further commentary on the recent study, including the implications for opportunities among younger generations.
Phone: 801-581-3358 | Email: pam.perlich@utah.edu