As reported by the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR), Texas leads the nation in terms of manufactured housing shipments. A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas helps explain why. Texas gained 24,600 jobs in February after adding 58,900 jobs in January. Current Texas employment stands at 10.72 million with an unemployment rate at 7.1 percent in February from 7.3 percent in January. Existing-home sales increased 2.8 percent in February and are up 16.5 percent year over year. Sales in Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio were all up from January levels. Texas factory activity continued to increase in March, according to the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, held steady at 11.1, suggesting growth continued at about the same pace as last month.
(Photo by Eric Miller)