News and Analysis
Report: Consumers Are Postponing Larger Purchases
September 24, 2021The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index this month indicates consumers are delaying purchases of big-ticket items as they wait for prices to decline. OMA Connections Partner RSM reports that just 29% of respondents said it was a good time to buy a house or vehicle; only 38% said it was a good time to buy a major household item.
Meanwhile, the Money Anxiety Index — which measures consumer actions, not survey responses — actually shows declining money anxiety since the end of June. 9/20/2021
OMA Board Updated on Vaccine Mandate, Statehouse Activity
September 17, 2021On Sept. 14, the OMA board of directors held a hybrid Q3 meeting, with roughly one-third of board members appearing in person in Columbus. Key topics of discussion were President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate, as well as the effects of the ongoing workforce shortage, inflation, and supply shortages.
OMA staff briefed the board on Statehouse legislation that could impact manufacturing operations — including House Bill 248 to limit employers’ rights with respect to vaccination policies, and House Bill 401 to allow employees to sue employers for adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines. Both bills are opposed by the OMA. (The sponsor of HB 248 has launched an effort to force a House vote on the bill.)
OMA General Counsel Chris Slagle of Bricker & Ecker updated board members on statewide ballot issues, tort reform, and redistricting. OMA staff also provided survey results revealing 18 to 45-year-olds’ perception of manufacturing, noting that more results would be disclosed at the Oct. 27-28 Ohio Manufacturers’ Workforce Summit. 9/15/2021
JobsOhio Data Is Bullish for State’s Economy
September 17, 2021Gongwer News Service reports some bullish news from last week’s JobsOhio board meeting. According to JobsOhio President J.P. Nauseef, in a typical year, Ohio competes for about seven projects with the potential to create more than 500 jobs. Ohio is currently in competition for 41 such projects, an increase of 485%.
Over the past year, Ohio has been able to attract 25 companies from coastal states, resulting in 7,700 new jobs and more than $450 million in payroll. Another five companies have reshored, representing 2,497 jobs and $150 million in payroll.
In a Cleveland.com editorial this week, OMA President Ryan Augsburger extolled the achievements of JobsOhio, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. 9/14/2021
New Legislative District Maps Appear to Retain GOP Supermajorities in Ohio House and Senate
September 17, 2021Shortly after the constitutional deadline passed this week, the Ohio Redistricting Commission approved new Ohio House and Ohio Senate district maps.
With no support from the Democratic members of the commission, the maps will be valid for only four years. They will provide Republicans a 62-37 advantage in the House (compared to the current 64-35) and a 23-10 advantage in the Ohio Senate (compared to 25-8).
Next on the to-do list is the drawing of new boundaries of Ohio’s congressional districts. The commission has until Sept. 30 to draw those lines. 9/16/2021
Central Ohio Seeing Fastest Rates of Population Growth
September 17, 2021According to U.S. Census data released last month, central Ohio claimed most of the state’s fastest-growing counties. Delaware County grew 22.9%, followed by Union (20%), Warren (13.9%), Franklin (13.8%), and Fairfield (8.7%) counties. Nearly two-thirds of Ohio counties lost population in the last decade. However, overall Ohio still gained 262,944 residents to remain the seventh largest state. 9/14/2021
Lawmakers Return to Columbus Next Week; Focus Is on Redistricting
September 10, 2021Ohio lawmakers return from their summer break next week. Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) told Gongwer News Service earlier this week that addressing higher education COVID-19 vaccine mandates and redistricting will be among the chamber’s priorities.
Meanwhile, the Ohio Redistricting Commission this week accepted the newly proposed legislative district maps drawn by House and Senate Republican staff as the commission’s working document. (The maps and related information are posted on the commission’s website.) According to early analysis, under the GOP’s maps, Republicans would retain 67 of 99 seats in the Ohio House and 25 of 33 seats in the Ohio Senate — both veto-proof majorities. 9/9/2021
Chip Shortage Until 2023?
September 10, 2021In its analysis of the microchip shortage, the AP reports that “record-high consumer prices for vehicles — new and used — will extend into next year and might not fall until 2023.” CNBC notes the shortage is thought to have been exacerbated by the move to electric vehicles. (A new, smaller vehicle with an internal combustion engine uses around 300 chips; a new electric vehicle can have as many as 3,000 chips.)
This infographic by Visual Capitalist illustrates how dependent the global economy and modern life have become on chip technology, as well as chip manufacturers in Asia. 9/7/2021
Ohio Earns Another Top 10 Ranking for Business Climate
September 10, 2021This week, Ohio was again named a top 10 state in which to do business — this time by Area Development magazine following its annual survey of leading location consultants. Ohio is No. 9 in the comparison, which examined 13 categories impacting companies’ location and facility plans. Ohio performed especially well in the areas of site-readiness programs and available real estate. 9/9/2021
Study: Ohio No. 2 for Auto Manufacturing
September 10, 2021Ohio manufacturing scored well in the latest comparisons recently published by Business Facilities magazine. According to the publication’s 17th Annual Rankings Report, the Buckeye State is once again a top 10 state in multiple categories, including automotive manufacturing (#2), aerospace/defense (#7), manufacturing employment (#8), and solar power jobs (#9). 9/7/2021
Opening on Ohio Rail Development Commission
September 10, 2021There is currently a vacancy on the Ohio Rail Development Commission. The vacant seat is dedicated specifically for representation of manufacturing interests. OMA members interested in this governor-appointed position should email the commission’s executive director, Matt Dietrich. 9/9/2021