Leading Indicators

Since 2019 the Economy League has produced a regular data brief designed to deepen understanding of key regional trends.  LI provides  digestible, accessible analysis of data on timely topics such as regional economic trends, local labor and housing markets, and the business ecosystem.  

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The Latest Leading Indicators

Leading Indicators
Stop-And-Frisk in Philadelphia's Changing Neighborhoods
This Leading Indicator is derived from a capstone paper written by Christion Smith, an intern at the Economy League and a candidate for a Master’s...
Leading Indicators
Philadelphia’s Looming Housing Affordability Crisis – Part 4
In the final piece of our housing affordability series of 2021, we detail home values and rent burden within and across Philadelphia’s neighborhoods...
Leading Indicators
Philadelphia’s Looming Housing Affordability Crisis – Part 3
In our last Leading Indicator , we compared Philadelphia’s housing affordability with other similarly sized U.S. cities and the nation. For this issue...
Leading Indicators
Philadelphia’s Looming Housing Affordability Crisis – Part 2
In our last Leading Indicator , we detailed the growing gap between household incomes, home values, and rent in Philadelphia. For this issue, we take...
Leading Indicators
Philadelphia’s Looming Housing Affordability Crisis – Part 1
As Diana Lind argues in her recent book Brave New Home , traditional housing in the United States is becoming increasingly inaccessible and...
Leading Indicators
Philadelphia’s Persistent Income Inequality: A 2019 Data Update
Aligned with the Economy League’s mission to promote equity and shared prosperity in Greater Philadelphia, we continue our coverage of income...
Leading Indicators
Some Thoughts about the Falling Poverty Rate Among Black Philadelphians
In a previous Leading Indicator – detailing the changing distribution of poverty in Philadelphia – we found that the proportion of Black...
Leading Indicators
The Road to Recovery: Greater Philadelphia’s Professional and Business Services Industry
In our second installment of our Road to Recovery series, we take a closer look at Greater Philadelphia’s professional and business services industry...
Leading Indicators
The Road to Recovery: Greater Philadelphia’s Accommodation and Food Services Sector
In past data briefs , we detailed the direct and long-lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various sectors of Greater Philadelphia’s economy...
Leading Indicators
The Changing Distribution of Poverty in Philadelphia
In its last session of 2020, Philadelphia's City Council passed legislation aligned with its Poverty Action Plan . Whether providing relief or job...
Leading Indicators
Part 3: Automation in Greater Philadelphia's Transportation Industry
By: Mike Shields and Andrew Strohmetz Date: December 2, 2020 Automation in Greater Philadelphia's Transportation Industry A fully-functioning...
Leading Indicators
Regional Employment Growth Amidst the Pandemic
The current number of new job posts in the U.S. is roughly 14 percent lower than this time last year, according to a recent data brief released by the...
Leading Indicators
Part 2: Automation in Greater Philadelphia's Healthcare and Social Assistance Industry
By: Mike Shields, Mohona Siddique, and Andrew Strohmetz Date: November 4, 2020 Automation in Greater Philadelphia's Healthcare and Social Assistance...
Leading Indicators
Philadelphia’s Millennial Population
From delaying marriage and homeownership to their role in progressive social movements, the millennial generation has received plenty of media...
Leading Indicators
Part 1: Automation and Greater Philadelphia's Food Economy
By: Mike Shields, Mohona Siddique, and Andrew Strohmetz Date: October 7, 2020 Automation in Greater Philadelphia's Food Economy For the first...
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