Economist has Good News, Bad News for State

Creighton University Economist Ernie Goss has some good news for Wyoming's economy. Unfortunately that may not include natural gas producers, at least over the short termGoss says the good news is that his survey of purchasing managers in the state in March shows strong growth overall for Wyoming's economy, The cowboy state scored a 70 on Goss's scale in March,which he calls a "very strong" indicator. Anything above a 50 on Goss's scale predicts economic growth, and Goss says Wyoming is beginning  to see labor shortages among some skilled workers.

But on the downside, Goss says natural gas prices may remain low in the near future. He cited a recent price of 2.06 per mcf, and says the price could go even lower in coming weeks. But he adds recent Environmental Protection Agency decisions discouraging the construction of new coal-fired electrical plants should mean a better outlook for natural gas prices over the long-term.