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OKC Growth Masks Inflation Strain

Economists note Oklahoma City faces strong economic momentum alongside persistent labor shortages and inflation pressures. Businesses navigate an aging workforce while dealing with high borrowing costs.

Insights:
From left, the panel at Wednesday's event included Mark Snead of RegionTrack, Russell Evans, dean of the University of Central Oklahoma College of Business, OU Price College of Business Professor Emeritus Robert Dauffenbach and Cortney Cowley from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

Oklahoma City maintains a 3.7% unemployment rate, ranking among the lowest in the United States, driven by 88 company expansions and relocations over the past year. Regional business leaders face persistent labor shortages and sticky inflation despite robust capital investments totaling $9.9 billion. Navigating an aging workforce and elevated borrowing costs remains critical for sustaining long-term regional expansion.