Eight Arkansas cities exceed average economic activity rating

Eight Arkansas cities included in the Arkansas Tech Business Index had above-average economic activity ratings during the year's second quarter.

Arkansas Tech said in a statement that Bentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Fort Smith, Conway, Hot Springs and Mountain Home each finished the quarter with a 100 or greater rating, which is above the state average since 2009.

The rating, created by the Arkansas Tech University College of Business and sponsored by Arvest Bank, is calculated using labor, housing market, construction and retail sales data in each city.

Mike Willard, president and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank in Prairie Grove, said in a statement that the data reflects demand the bank has experienced "in mortgage, consumer and commercial loan activity."

“The major cities in Northwest Arkansas continue the pattern of leading the state in the economic recovery at a steady pace,” he said. “We have seen this growth echoed in construction, business expansion and general consumer optimism throughout the region."

CityQ2 rating
Bentonville106.34
Fayetteville104.74
Springdale104.53
Rogers104.32
Fort Smith103.17
Conway101.9
Hot Springs100.38
Mountain Home100.01
Van Buren99.25
Searcy98.38
Russellville98.01
El Dorado97.43
Jonesboro97.36
West Memphis96.83
North Little Rock96.12
Little Rock93.76
Pine Bluff93.29
TexarkanaN/A

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