The Compass Report: No name

The Compass Report is the only independent economic analysis of Arkansas’ top three metro areas (Central Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas, Fort Smith region). The report measures four leading and four current economic indicators to provide a grade for a regional economy.

A Compass Report has been produced for the Fort Smith region since the first quarter of 2009. Reports from central Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas will be published by early May, and will reflect economic conditions during the first quarter of 2012.

Click here to see the most recent The Compass Report for the Fort Smith region.

Sharp principal gets "master" designation

Tanya Sharp, principal at Elm Tree Elementary School in Bentonville, achieved the Master Principal Designation recently from the Arkansas Leadership Academy.

Wed, 05/16/2012 - 4:06pm

J.B. Hunt director resigns

William J. Shea Jr., who has served as a board member for J.B. Hunt Transport Services since 2011, resigned his position effective April 16 according to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Wed, 04/18/2012 - 12:14pm

The Compass Report: Feb.-March Numbers by the Wire

Sales tax collections — to include hospitality taxes —home sales activity and enplanement figures in the area are positive, but high jobless numbers continue to place downward pressure on the regional economy, according to data compiled for the February-March 2012 Numbers by the Wire report.

Fri, 04/13/2012 - 11:00am

Arvest Bank in Prairie Grove promotes Hooten

Arvest Bank announced the promotion of Malia Hooten to assistant vice president and consumer lender in Prairie Grove.

Tue, 03/27/2012 - 12:05pm

Cancer Support Home offers free counseling, support groups

Out of every 100,000 Arkansans about 180 men and 259 women will be diagnosed with cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society. The rate incident is 15% higher than the national average.

Mon, 03/26/2012 - 12:30pm

EOA Children's House gets Walmart grant

SPRINGDALE — EOA Children’s House, the only center in Arkansas that provides long-term, year-round treatment to young abused and neglected children, has received a $84,578 grant from the Walmart Foundation to expanded its pre-kindergarten education, transportation for children and for certain the

Wed, 03/14/2012 - 1:48pm

The Compass Report: January 2012 Numbers by the Wire

The economic story for the region during 2011 was that sales tax collections — to include tourism taxes — in the counties and cities showed consistent gains. The tax collections are a good sign of consumer sentiment.

Mon, 03/05/2012 - 11:05am

Arts Center of the Ozarks’ Beach Ball eases the winter blues

SPRINGDALE — The Arts Center of the Ozarks’ Beach Ball, a casual affair born from a much more formal soiree established 45 years ago, now gives patrons and supporters a chance to dress down, rather than “up.”

Mon, 02/27/2012 - 10:31am

Havenwood’s Angel Gala connects residents to donors

BENTONVILLE — Residents of Havenwood, a transitional housing program for single-parent families, took a night away from their duties as parents and rubbed elbows with their most caring and well-to-do donors during Havenwood’s 18th annual Ange

Sun, 02/26/2012 - 1:05pm

Cabins, economic shift noted at Compass Conference

Lake Fort Smith State Park will welcome 10 new cabins by the end of 2012, Richard Davies, executive director of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, said Friday (Feb. 24).

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 4:17pm

The Compass Report: Economy dips in fourth quarter 2011

Fourth quarter 2011 economic conditions declined slightly compared to the 2010 period, with a decline in overall employment and building permit values weighing negatively on continued gains in regional sales tax collections.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 10:27am

The Compass Report: October 2011 Numbers by the Wire

The ongoing economic story for the region is that sales tax collections in the counties and cities continue to show gains. The tax collections are a good sign of consumer sentiment. Hospitality tax collections in Fort Smith and Van Buren continue a positive trend.

Tue, 12/27/2011 - 8:38am

Consumer Compass Report: Regional pessimism grows

Fort Smith regional residents are growing more pessimistic about their personal finances and the health of the overall economy — a reality possibly fueled by the news Whirlpool will close its Fort Smith manufacturing plant.

Wed, 12/14/2011 - 3:13pm

The Compass Report: Economic ‘resilience’ helps Fort Smith region

Relative gains in area sales tax collections and tourism industry employment helped third quarter 2011 economic conditions remain stable compared to the 2010 period.

Thu, 12/01/2011 - 9:01am

The Compass Report: September 2011 Numbers by the Wire

Sales tax collections in the counties showed impressive gains during the period — hopefully a good sign of consumer sentiment.

Mon, 11/07/2011 - 8:11am

The Compass Report: August 2011 Numbers by the Wire

Sales and hospitality tax collections continue to show signs of recovery, especially in the urban areas of the region, according to the August report of Numbers by the Wire.

Thu, 09/29/2011 - 8:58am

The Consumer Compass Report: Regional sentiment hits new lows

The fifth edition of The Consumer Compass Report shows a drop in confidence with respect to personal finances and the overall economy — a finding that should come as no surprise to anyone closely watching economic conditions locally and at the state and national levels.

Mon, 09/19/2011 - 2:30pm