Score: Moody’s Investment Service, a provider of credit ratings, research, and financial risk analysis, announced yesterday that Louisiana’s Master Plan for Higher Education, if accomplished, will mean “greater economic competitiveness” and will be “credit positive” for the state moving ahead. According to Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed, the announcement is an affirmation the state’s plans directly tie higher education’s activities to Louisiana’s economic future. Read the full statement from the Board of Regents.
Recovery efforts: The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that it approved Gov. John Bel Edwards’ request for a disaster declaration for Louisiana business and homeowners impacted by Hurricane Barry. The declaration makes SBA assistance available in several parishes affected by the hurricane, but not to East Baton Rouge residents. See their website for more information.
Price check: Consumer prices slowed in August, rising by a slight 0.1%, reflecting a big drop in the cost of gasoline and other energy products. The tiny increase in the consumer price index followed a much bigger 0.3% rise in July which had been driven by a jump in energy prices, the Labor Department reported this morning. With energy costs falling in August for a third month out of the past four, the overall price increase slowed leaving consumer prices rising a modest 1.7% over the past year. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, rose 0.3% last month and 2.4% over the past year. Read the full story.
