Illinois’ economic comeback continues

Posted on January 5, 2021
The Flash index, showing this month an increase to 95.9 from 95.6. 100 is the break-even point between growth and contraction. (Photo University of Illinois Flash Index)

 

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The economic recovery in Illinois has a University of Illinois professor somewhat optimistic.

Fred Giertz says there’s no denying, though, that the year 2020 was a bad one for the economy. “If you went back to April 2020 and asked how will we be at the end of the year,” he said, “I think we are much better off than we expected. It’s a bad situation, but not as bad as we probably thought the first several weeks of the crisis.”

Giertz measures the Illinois economy and writes it up in his Flash index, showing this month an increase to 95.9 from 95.6. 100 is the break-even point between growth and contraction.

Giertz says while the president’s hand is not necessarily on the lever every time, the market does respond when people have confidence – or a lack of confidence – in a new leader.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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