Homebuilding, Hiring Help Brighten Local Outlook

San Diego Union-Tribune — Rising home construction and an improving job market helped brighten the outlook for the local economy, according to the latest index of leading economic indicators from the University of San Diego.

It was the 25th month in a row that the index has either risen or remained unchanged, following three years of steady decline. In April, only one of the seven factors that comprise the index was negative: the national outlook, which slowed in the first quarter due to rising gas prices and government cutbacks.

Alan Gin, who compiles the index for USD's Burnham-Moores Real Estate Institute, said he expects the local economy to continue to grow through 2011, although the waters remain choppy. (Full story)