Journal Article
Oil and gas rises again in a diversified Texas
Thies, Jackson; Yücel, Mine K. (2011-01)
The oil and gas industry has been a driver of the Texas economy for the past 40 years. Its contribution declined with the oil-led recession of 1986 and appeared to slip further in the 1990s as the high-tech industry boomed. But oil and natural gas prices have risen since 1999, reaching record highs in 2008. This resurgence has boosted energy activity and factored into the recent economic recovery in Texas, affirming the industry?s long-held prominence in the state. ; An econometric model developed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas documents the state?s evolving energy fortunes since the ...
Southwest Economy , Issue Q1 , Pages 10-13

Journal Article
Spotlight: Texas wind energy: tax breaks, transmission lines key to growth
Thies, Jackson (2009-07)
Texas became the nation's most prolific generator of wind power in the past decade, but the industry's future growth will depend on tax incentives to make it cost competitive and new transmission lines to get electricity to consumers.
Southwest Economy , Issue Q3 , Pages 15

Journal Article
Spotlight: upper East Texas in slump, region holds up better than U.S.
Thies, Jackson; Nicholson, Michael (2009-04)
As the U.S. and Texas slipped into recession last year, a balanced economy lessened the impact on upper East Texas. In March, the region's year-over-year nonfarm employment was down 0.4 percent, compared with the state's decline of 0.8 percent and the nation's 3.5 percent. Unemployment rates in the region's principal metros are near or below the state's 6.7 percent average.
Southwest Economy , Issue Q2 , Pages 7

Journal Article
Noteworthy: oil markets: Saudis abandon WTI price as benchmark
Thies, Jackson (2010-01)
Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company no longer uses West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil as its pricing benchmark. Saudi Aramco, the third largest U.S. oil supplier, switched to the Argus Sour Crude Index (ASCI) in January.
Southwest Economy , Issue Q1 , Pages 15

Journal Article
Noteworthy: dairy squeeze: low prices, high costs hit Texas industry
Thies, Jackson (2009-04)
Production of more than 7 billion pounds a year makes milk one of Texas' top 10 agricultural commodities. However, 2009 is shaping up to be a tough year for the state's dairy producers.
Southwest Economy , Issue Q2 , Pages 15

Journal Article
Noteworthy: commercial building: Texas shows signs of weakening
Thies, Jackson (2009-01)
Texas commercial construction held up relatively well throughout 2008--in the broad view, at least.
Southwest Economy , Issue Q1 , Pages 15

Journal Article
Noteworthy: energy: oil, gasoline price spikes unlikely in 2009
Thies, Jackson (2008-11)
Southwest Economy , Issue Nov , Pages 14

Journal Article
Sizing up nanoelectronics: gauging the potential for new productivity wave
Yücel, Mine K.; Swadley, Adam; Thies, Jackson; Phillips, Keith R. (2011-04)
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, in cooperation with the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), hosted a conference on nanoelectronics and the economy in Austin on Dec. 3, 2010. Economists and scientists explored how information technology has affected U.S. productivity and output growth and prospects for the future.
Southwest Economy , Issue Q2 , Pages 16-19

Journal Article
Noteworthy: commercial real estate: recession takes toll, banks put at risk
Thies, Jackson (2009-10)
Texas' commercial real estate market steadily worsened as recession took hold in 2009. Commercial real estate's woes don't bode well for banks already struggling with losses from residential loans. The number of distressed properties--those in foreclosure, in bankruptcy or restructured--is rising.
Southwest Economy , Issue Q4 , Pages 15

Journal Article
Noteworthy: Gulf oil spill: Costs of well disaster still piling up
Thies, Jackson (2010-10)
British Petroleum's Macondo well blew out April 20 as the Deepwater Horizon platform sunk. By the time the well was capped on July 15, an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil had flowed into the Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. government and BP are still assembling a definitive estimate of the flow; the final figure is likely to be a source of contention because it will be the basis for determining financial penalties.
Southwest Economy , Issue Q4 , Pages 14