(The Center Square) – The longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history doesn’t appear to have affected northwest Louisiana’s economy, but the area isn’t showing much growth, either.
That’s according to an analysis of third-quarter numbers from LSU Shreveport’s Center for Business and Economic Research, which releases quarterly data for Shreveport-Bossier.
The local unemployment rate stood at 4.3% in August, a steady decline from the 5% rate in June. September data for unemployment and building permits was unavailable.
“We seem to be muddling through,” Douglas White, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research, said in the analysis posted on the university’s website. “It’d be better if we saw some really strong growth, but at the same time, there doesn’t appear to be any real chance of a recession.”
Revenue from the Shreveport Regional Airport and local casinos remained strong. The airport welcomed 217,760 passengers in the third quarter, an 18% increase from the same time period in 2024 and a 29% increase from 2023, the report said.
The casino market, which added Live! Casino in February, was up 9.3% from the third quarter of last year, according to the report.
“If the economy is really doing poorly, you’d expect to see some pull back in those areas, and we aren’t seeing that,” White said. “But I think there’s some truth to the ‘K-shaped economy,’ where the upper half of people are doing well and the lower half are not.”
White said he’s interested to see whether higher prices will affect the upcoming holiday shopping and travel season.
“Inflation is still the number one reason that people aren’t happy with the economy because prices are high,” he said.
Deb Cockrell, owner of Enchanted Garden, a gift shop in Shreveport, said she’s seeing customers “in spurts” this year.
“People started getting ready in the summer. A lot of our shoppers shop early. I’m always optimistic, so I’m looking for a good Christmas” season, Cockrell said.
When it comes to the economy, “It can always be better,” she said. Her small business plans to donate part of its holiday revenue to the local food bank this year.
“There’s a lot of hurting people out there,” Cockrell said.
