Illinois economy grows 4.3%, riding national trend

By Ravi Mishra

01/23/2026

Illinois saw strong economic growth in the third quarter of 2025, largely tracking national trends.

Illinois GDP grew 4.8% in 2nd quarter of 2025

By Ravi Mishra

10/03/2025

Illinois’ economy bounces back after early 2025 slump. Long-term growth is threatened by taxation, regulation and barriers to getting a job.

Illinois economy declines 2.2% in early 2025, one of biggest drops in U.S.

By Ravi Mishra

07/31/2025

Illinois’ latest drop in gross domestic product shows broader issues with the state. The state’s real GDP has been struggling for years.

TAGS: GDP: gross domestic product

Illinois governors abuse budget projections, leaving taxpayers damaged

By FJ Hilgart

03/31/2025

Illinois lawmakers can’t budget responsibly if they don’t know how much they have. Governors have a history of fudging the numbers to get what they want.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

New bills would help keep state spending in check

By FJ Hilgart

02/25/2025

House Bill 3014 and Senate Bill 1546 would tie Illinois’ spending growth to GDP growth, potentially saving billions of dollars as the state needs to live within its means.

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families  

By Josh Bandoch, Joe Tabor

07/09/2024

Published July 9, 2024 America is facing a housing affordability crisis. According to a 2022 survey, 73% of Americans said the average person could not afford a home in their area, and 69% were worried about their children and grandchildren being able to afford a home. That’s unfair. Everyone deserves a good roof over their...

Nearly half of Illinois’ metropolitan areas lost jobs in August

By Justin Carlson

09/28/2022

The latest job numbers show Illinois continues struggling to recover pandemic job losses, a bad sign for its lagging economy as recession fears rise.

Southern Illinois taxpayers spend $124.5M since 2002 to keep airport open

By Brad Weisenstein

09/28/2022

An underused airport near Belleville, Illinois, has required local taxpayers to chip in $124.5 million since 2002 to keep it operating.

TAGS: MidAmerica Airport

10 Illinois metro areas gain jobs, only 1 recovers from pandemic

By Bryce Hill

08/02/2022

Only Bloomington has recouped early 2020 job losses, which is bad news for Illinois’ lagging economy as recession fears increase.

TAGS: Bloomington, COVID-19, economic recovery, jobs, unemployment

Illinois still missing 1 in 7 jobs lost during pandemic

By Bryce Hill

08/01/2022

With the highest unemployment rate in the Midwest and 117,000 jobs still missing, Illinois’ labor market is among the least recovered in the region.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economic recovery, employment, job creation, jobs

The Bureau of Economic Analysis

Illinois economy grows 4.3%, riding national trend

Illinois GDP grew 4.8% in 2nd quarter of 2025

Illinois economy declines 2.2% in early 2025, one of biggest drops in U.S.

Illinois governors abuse budget projections, leaving taxpayers damaged

New bills would help keep state spending in check

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families

Nearly half of Illinois’ metropolitan areas lost jobs in August

Southern Illinois taxpayers spend $124.5M since 2002 to keep airport open

10 Illinois metro areas gain jobs, only 1 recovers from pandemic

Illinois still missing 1 in 7 jobs lost during pandemic

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students