Economists at West Virginia University say the state’s economy will continue to see solid growth by the end of 2017. It’s the highest level since 2015.
West Virginia’s economy has increased by 2 percent over the past year, according to the Mountain State Business Index.
Last month, the index jumped three tenths of a percent. That growth is mostly attributed to a 4 percent increase in coal production from July.
Director of the WVU Bureau of Business and Economic Research John Deskins predicts West Virginia will “post moderate growth over the next several months,” but says it will probably take years for the state’s job market to bounce back to levels it saw prior to 2012.
The business index is produced by WVU’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Economic indicators determine the index, including building permits, unemployment insurance claims, the value of the U.S. dollar, stock prices related to West Virginia employers, interest rates, coal production, and natural gas output.