Arkansas State Profile

Arkansas' business tax climate rates among worst in the nation; business conditions improve but remain weak historically with declines reported in new orders, production, inventories, and employment; state revenue drop is highest in two decades.

• State job growth fell 2.1% in August 2009 from a year ago; national job growth fell 4.4%.
• State unemployment averaged 7.1% in August 2009; the national average was 9.7%
• Personal income fell 2.2% to $91.3 billion in Q2 2009 from a year ago.
• Tax revenue fell 4.7% in Q2 2009 from the previous year.
• Exports fell 16.2% to $2.3 billion in the first seven months of 2009 from a year ago.