King Banaian

It was a tough week on Wall Street last week and there have been numerous reports of job cuts. St. Cloud State Economist King Banaian joined me on WJON. He explains the recent troubles with the job market isn't a sign of a recession quite yet. Banaian says the job market is weaker and slower but he's not ready to say a recession is coming.

The cost of goods and services have been on the steady increase. St. Cloud State University Economist King Banaian joined me on WJON. He says wages are catching up with inflation but that also carries consequences. Banaian believes if wages go up too much it will cause interest rates to stay higher for longer because the Federal Reserve will feel like inflation hasn't made enough progress and they won't cut rates.

Most of us above the age of 16 are drivers in Minnesota and the majority of those above 16 keep an eye on gas prices. Who is really making money on gas in Minnesota? That is a question I posed to St. Cloud State Economist King Banaian.

Due to the value of the U.S. dollar St. Cloud State Economist King Banaian believes this could be a good time to travel overseas. Banaian joined me on WJON today. He says the U.S. dollar is about as strong as it's been in quite some time.

Shopping Malls have undergone some challenges and changes recently. St. Cloud State Economist King Banaian joined me on WJON. He says the malls of the 70s and 80s often included movie theaters, restaurants and shops. People would make a day of their experience.

Americans are incurring more debt. St. Cloud State Economist King Banaian explained on WJON Monday that debts levels are returning to 2019 levels. He says the pandemic of 2020 influenced many people's spending.

Gas prices have been on the rise recently but St. Cloud State Economist King Banaian doesn't think that will continue. He joined me on WJON today. He says the reason for the rise in gas prices has to do with an electrical situation that happened at a plant in Indiana which took the biggest supplier of gas in the Midwest offline.

The United States are producing more oil in recent years, importing less and exporting more. That according to St. Cloud State Economist King Banaian, who joined me on WJON today. He says the trend in the country indicates we are consuming marginally less oil from year to year.

Colleges play a role in a community's economy. St. Cloud State University Professor of Economics and Interim Dean, King Banaian joined me on WJON. He says the role schools like St. Cloud State, St. John's, St. Ben's and St. Cloud Tech and Community College play in the community include two things;

Gas prices are on the rise but where will they peak? St. Cloud State Dean, School of Public Affairs and Economics Professor King Banaian joined me on WJON. He says due to Sauk Arabia announcing that they will extend their voluntary production cuts of 1 million barrels per day through the end of the year.

The demand for air travel continues to rise and so are the prices. St. Cloud State Economist and Dean, School of Public Affairs King Banaian joined me on WJON. He says planes are full and the prices are high... people are determined to travel despite the price increase.

Despite the news of OPEC reducing oil production St. Cloud State Economist and Dean, School of Public Affairs, King Banaian doesn't believe gas prices will move much up or down anytime soon.