Wichita Is Faring Better Than the U.S.

Jerry Siebenmark reports the consensus that our local economy is sailing in a sheltered bay while the national economy struggles to stay afloat in a tempest.

"While high gasoline and food prices are having an effect on the area's economy, they are not dramatically slowing it, local economists said Tuesday.

"'Our local economy, for the most part, is doing very well,' said Malcolm Harris, professor of finance at Friends University. 'Aerospace is doing very well, the farm economy is doing well and natural resources -- oil and gas -- is doing very well.'"

Our local unemployment rate is 1.2 percentage points below the national average.