Recent issues
Vol. 6, Issue 3: Food Access & Insecurity – February 18, 2025 (PDF)
Missouri ranks better than a third of U.S. states in food access, measured by the number and proximity of area grocery stores, but lags behind the majority (65%). In 2021, 11.6% of Missouri households were food insecure, meaning they lacked access to adequate food due to financial or resource constraints.
Vol. 6, Issue 2: Social Capital in Friendship Connections – Jan. 27, 2025 (PDF)
Social capital — the relationships between individuals — can create access to other forms of capital and support local economic development. Bonding ties, or the clustering of similar individuals, can foster trust, while bridging ties (connecting diverse individuals) can expand access to resources.
Vol. 6, Issue 1: Gross Domestic Product Trends – Jan. 7, 2025 (PDF)
Missouri’s economy reached $430 billion in 2023, with real growth of 2.6% compared to the previous year. This growth rate was slightly below the U.S. average of 2.9%, ranking Missouri 25th nationwide. Roughly 82% of the state’s 115 counties, including St. Louis City, grew their economies from 2022 to 2023. This is a significant improvement from 2021 to 2022, when only 37% of the state’s 115 counties grew their economies.