NWI Times: “Indiana economy lagged behind nation in 2015”

State’s real GDP of 1.7% for 2015 falls well below national average of 2.4%, behind Illinois and Ohio

INDIANAPOLIS – Mike Pence’s economy is once again not “at its peak,” but is in fact sluggish and falling behind our Midwest neighbors and the rest of the nation.

“Despite the fourth-quarter surge, the Hoosier state’s gross domestic product grew by 1.7 percent in 2015, trailing far behind the national average of 2.4 percent and behind its 2014 growth rate of 2.2 percent.” – NWI Times

“Despite final burst, Indiana GDP grew slower than nation’s in 2015” – Indianapolis Star

“Hoosiers aren’t buying into Mike Pence’s election year, unemployment rate ploy because they aren’t seeing this reality in their pocketbooks. The state’s real economy remains sluggish, income strength for Hoosiers has fallen, and quality of life has dropped under this administration,” said Drew Anderson, communications director. “Instead of improving the well-being of Indiana, Mike Pence has focused on an out-of-touch social agenda that’s driven away job opportunities and has the state falling behind the rest of the nation.”

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: INDIANA IS FALLING BEHIND THE REST OF THE NATION

Overall State Economy

• Indiana’s economy had a sluggish growth at 1.7% real GDP, below the national average of 2.4% GDP. – [Route Fifty, 6.14.16]
• Indiana economic growth lags behind neighboring states Illinois and Ohio. – [Bureau of Economic Analysis, 6.14.16]
• Indiana ranks 38^th in per capita income, down from 34th in 2004. – [NWI Times, 03.26.16]
• Median Incomes: Wages have dropped from $53,500 in 2000 to $46,900 in 2013. – [U.S. Census]
• Hoosiers make 86 cents for every one American dollar earned. – [Indianapolis Star, 6.1.15]
• Indiana ranks 46^th in quality of life, 42^nd in workforce. – [CNBC]
• About two thirds of minimum wage workers in Indiana are women. – [Forbes, 7, 2015]
• Hoosier women make 75 cents for every dollar a man makes. – [AAUW, 2015]
• African American households earn on average $21,000 less than white households. – [Indianapolis Star, 4.11.15]
• Hispanic households make $15,000 less than white households. – [Indianapolis Star, 4.11.15]

Mike Pence’s RFRA

• Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in a closed door ceremony [FOX 59, 3.26.15], throwing Indiana into a $250 million economic panic. – [The Advocate, 7.10.15]

Pence Repeals Common Construction Wage Law

• Mike Pence and Statehouse Republicans repealed the common construction wage laws, allowing union worker wages to go down and the expanding wage gap continues to grow in our state. – [NWI Times, 5.6.15]

###