The median household income in Louisiana declined by over 2-percent in 2016, the largest decrease in the nation according to Census Figures. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says this decrease is a result of the struggling oil and gas industry. He says we have three metropolitan areas that are in a recession, Houma, Lafayette and Shreveport.
Scott says there are definitely signs of optimism for better numbers in 2017. He says the rate of decline in both Houma and Lafayette has significantly lessened.
Louisiana looks to be improving as we gained 24,200 nonfarm jobs since August of last year. Scott says the job numbers have been up for May, June, and July.