King Banaian

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.

Gas prices have been on the steady decline for the past few months. St. Cloud State Economist King Banaian joined me on WJON. He explained United States production of oil has reached an all time high surpassing the highs established pre-pandemic.

Gas prices in the St. Cloud area have come down a bit in the last week. St. Cloud State University Economist King Banaian joined me on WJON this week. He says President Biden's decision to release 180 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is reducing the price of gas at least in the short term.

The labor shortage in Central Minnesota is "real". That according to St. Cloud State Economist and Dean, School of Public Affairs. He joined me on WJON today. Banaian says the shortage could actually be getting worse.

Gas prices over the past few months have mostly been on the rise. St. Cloud State Economist and Dean, School of Public Affairs, King Banaian joined me on WJON this week. He says gas stations buy their gas from a distributor who charges them a certain price.

Gas prices have mostly stabilized locally for the past couple of weeks. St. Cloud State Economist and Dean, School of Public Affairs King Banaian joined me on WJON today. He says October is the month where we typically see the cheapest gas prices.

Almost everyone is hiring right now in Central Minnesota. St. Cloud State Economist King Banaian joined me on WJON today. He says the age group that hasn't returned to the workforce the most is those who are 55 years of age and older.

Hurricane Ida and the increased demand on gas pushed gas prices up locally in the past week. St. Cloud State Economist and Dean, School of Public Affairs, King Banaian joined me on WJON today. He expects gas prices to drop slightly after Labor Day weekend and continue to fall through October.