Minnesota and Michigan iron mines expect to see significant drops in output in 1999 as a result of increased imports of ore and finished steel. Ironically, increased steel imports have led to increased grain and coal exports from Duluth, Minn., as freighters which have offloaded foreign steel at Lake Michigan ports search for cargo to haul back through the Seaway. Paper mills also reportedly face slack demand for many grades of their output. Employment, Wages and Prices Labor markets remain tight as a drum in the district's urban areas. Employers in booming Fargo, N.D., which reached a record 0.9 percent unemployment rate in October, and Sioux Falls, S.D., express frustration about the difficulty of finding workers.
Unemployment rates remain low and largely stable in most parts of the district.
Price increases are rare at any level. Fuels and red meat prices continue as bargains for many consumers. Manufacturers report drops in prices of steel and nonferrous metals and in all petroleum-based chemicals or plastics. To comment on this site, please fill out our feedback form.