The Missouri and Kansas economies expanded during the fall of 2012. Employment growth in Missouri has accelerated since the summer, while job growth slowed in Kansas but remained positive. The unemployment rate fell in both states, and residential real estate continued to rebound in both Kansas...

The Kansas and Missouri economies grew during the spring of 2013. Employment growth was positive in both states, while their unemployment rates stayed flat. Residential real estate conditions continued to improve, and farmland values grew in the first quarter, but expectations for future incomes...

Local governments, which rely heavily on property taxes and fund transfers from state governments, continue to struggle with slowing revenues - a situation that is likely to persist over the next few years. As new property tax assessments reflect declines in house prices, local property tax...