While conditions remain weak, it appears that the Texas economy is on a steadier course after a rough ride last year. Recent economic data and anecdotal evidence suggest the worst of the state's economic woes may be over. Activity is growing in several sectors. The state maintains its...

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.

The hardships of recession aren't confined to the private sector. Dallas Fed regional economist Jason Saving takes a look at how state budgets are faring in the long, deep slump--starting with Texas.

With Texas facing hard times, four of the Dallas Fed's regional experts give an update on the state's economic performance in 2009, looking at the key areas of employment, manufacturing, housing and energy.

Texans' real median household income rose 1.3 percent in 2008, making the state one of only five with increases in the first calendar year of the U.S. recession. During better times, 33 states posted income gains in 2007 and only Michigan suffered a decline.

Texas' population grew robustly in the two years ended July 2009 despite the recession's impact on labor markets. The state added more people than any other--almost 1 million--and expanded at a faster pace than all but Utah and Wyoming.>

Symbolic of Texas' relative economic health during the recent recession, the unemployment rate has trailed U.S. joblessness by an average of 1 percentage point since January 2007. State policymakers may gain valuable insights by determining how this remarkable gap emerged. Is it due to changes...

Our political leaders must summon the courage to pull up their socks and deal with our fiscal predicament in a way that corrects for the mismatch between future income streams and liabilities.

Benchmarks of economic well-being show that Texas experienced a pattern of highs and lows similar to that of the nation during the recession. However, Texas continues to rank below other states in many of the measures, including median household income, poverty rate, and health insurance coverage.

The Great Moderation impacted job growth across nearly all regions over a fairly short period of time.