16
May
15
May
State government employees in Kansas
Kansas has more state government employees per resident than most states, and the trend is rising. Each year the United States Census Bureau surveys federal, state, and local government civilian employees. ((United States Census Bureau. Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (ASPEP). Available at https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/apes.html.)) The amount of payroll for a single month (March) is also recorded. In this case, I've made the data for state government employees available in an interactive visualization. (more…)
14
May
My struggle with Dupuytren’s Disease
If you've wondered why I seem to disappear once in a while, here is why. (more…)
10
May
Newsletter for May 10, 2021
Click here to view the freshest edition of the newsletter from Voice For Liberty. This edition is dated May 10, 2021. (more…)
09
May
National employment, April 2021
The national jobs report for April underperformed expectations and the unemployment rate rose slightly. The March jobs figure was revised downward significantly. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the United States Department of Labor, reported the closely-followed jobs number rose in April 2021 by 266,000 jobs from the prior month. The unemployment rate fell slightly to 6.1 percent from 6.2 percent. (more…)
08
May
Wichita ethics code to be considered
The Wichita city council will consider an ethics code that overlooks a simple and effective solution to a problem. This week the Wichita City Council will consider the final version of a proposed ethics code. It does not cover campaign finance. It does cover gifts to council members, which has been an issue in the past. Part of the problem with the proposal is the creation of a new board, the Ethics Advisory Board. Its members will be asked to judge things like whether a gift is "... intended or has the appearance or effect ..." The board will be…
05
May
Kansas tax revenue, April 2021
For April 2021, Kansas tax revenue was 69.9 percent greater than April 2020. Over the ten months of the current fiscal year, revenue is 19.5 percent higher than at the same point of the previous year. There are caveats to consider. Tax reports from the State of Kansas for April 2021 show tax revenues rising from the previous month, and also higher than the same month the prior year. Comparisons to April 2020 must be considered in that the tax deadline for 2020 was changed from April to July. That also shifted a large amount of revenue from fiscal year…
02
May
Newsletter for May 2, 2021
Click here to view the freshest edition of the newsletter from Voice For Liberty. This edition is dated May 2, 2021. (more…)
02
May
Kansas since the start of the pandemic
How has Kansas fared since the start of the pandemic compared to other states and the nation? (These examples are taken from my interactive visualization which holds data on all states and the nation. See Employment and unemployment in the states. It is updated through March 2021.) The first chart shows levels: The number of people in the labor force, the number of employed people, and the number of unemployed people. This data is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics household survey (CPS). This survey counts the number of people in each state for each category. In particular, a person…
30
Apr
Wichita since the start of the pandemic
How has Wichita fared since the start of the pandemic compared to other metropolitan areas? (These examples are taken from my interactive visualization which holds data on all metropolitan areas in the nation. See Metro area employment and unemployment. It is updated through March 2021.) The first chart shows Wichita and other Kansas metropolitan areas, as well as the total for all metropolitan areas. It shows changes in the number of jobs and the number of people in the labor force since the first month shown. It also shows the unemployment rate. Click charts for larger versions. As we can…
30
Apr
Wichita jobs and employment, March 2021
For the Wichita metropolitan area in March 2021, the number of unemployed persons is up, the unemployment rate is up, and the number of people working is down when compared to the same month one year ago. The recent trend is exhibiting only small changes. Data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the United States Department of Labor, shows the effects of the response to the pandemic in the Wichita Metropolitan Statistical Area for March 2021. Click charts and tables for larger versions. Total nonfarm employment fell from 306,200 in March 2020 to 287,600 in March 2021,…
25
Apr
Newsletter for April 25, 2021
Click here to view the freshest edition of the newsletter from Voice For Liberty. This edition is dated April 25, 2021. (more…)
17
Apr
Kansas jobs, March 2021
In Kansas for March 2021, the labor force grew, the number of people working rose, and the unemployment rate fell. Data released yesterday from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the United States Department of Labor, shows an improving employment picture in Kansas for March 2021. (Click charts and tables for larger versions.) Using seasonally adjusted data, from February 2021 to March 2021, nonfarm employment in Kansas rose by 12,800 jobs (0.9 percent). Over the year, the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs for March 2021 was lower by 48,900 (3.4 percent) over the same month last year. This is…
13
Apr
Wichita jobs and employment, February 2021
For the Wichita metropolitan area in February 2021, the number of unemployed persons is up, the unemployment rate is up, and the number of people working is down when compared to the same month one year ago. The recent trend is more positive. Data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the United States Department of Labor, shows the effects of the response to the pandemic in the Wichita Metropolitan Statistical Area for February 2021. Click charts and tables for larger versions. Total nonfarm employment fell from 306,700 in February 2020 to 282,300 in February 2021, a loss…
02
Apr
Quarterly tax collections
Tax collections by state and local governments fell by about one percent during calendar year 2020 when compared to the year before. Tax collection data from the United States Census Bureau shows state and local government tax collections falling only slightly during 2020, despite the effects of the pandemic. (more…)
01
Apr
Kansas tax revenue, March 2021
For March 2021, Kansas tax revenue was 12.7 percent greater than March 2020. Over the nine months of the current fiscal year, revenue is 14.0 percent higher than at the same point of the previous year. (more…)
01
Apr
Kansas school spending
Kansas school district spending, updated through 2020 and adjusted for inflation. What is the trend in Kansas school spending? This visualization presents several tables and illustrations of spending data. It is presented separately for each district, with a special district "State Totals - 999" being the sum of all districts. (more…)
31
Mar
Updated: Presidential data explorer
Explore the economic record of presidents through the lens of data, with new views and updates. To examine the record of presidents regarding economics, I gathered data from several sources and present it in an interactive visualization. Today the interactive visualization has been updated with current data and several new views. (more…)
28
Mar
Newsletter for March 28, 2021
Click here to view the freshest edition of the newsletter from Voice For Liberty. This edition is dated March 28, 2021. (more…)
27
Mar
Kansas GDP, fourth quarter of 2020
In the fourth quarter of 2020, the Kansas economy grew at the annual rate of 4.0 percent. GDP grew in all states, with Kansas performing in the middle. (more…)