DFW Economic Indicators January 2014 via Dallas Fed

The Dallas–Fort Worth economy continued to expand in December, although employment took a slight dip. For all of 2013, DFW employment grew a moderate 2.3 percent, roughly in line with the state’s rate of 2.4 percent and well above the U.S. pace of 1.6 percent. Residential activity remains healthy, with tight home inventories and strong growth in apartment construction. The Dallas and Fort Worth unemployment rates remain below those of the U.S and Texas, and the Dallas Fed business-cycle indexes suggest continued expansion in the DFW metroplex.

While DFW employment edged down in December, monthly numbers are subject to revision. The metro area lost jobs at an annual rate of 1.4 percent in December; however, jobs grew at a 0.6 percent pace in the fourth quarter. For the year, DFW added 70,600 jobs. Currently, area employment stands at 3.14 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ payroll survey.

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