Egg prices jumped 49% in the past year, more than any other grocery category, according to the consumer price index. In Wyoming, eggs cost more than $5 a dozen.
In his new book “The Paradox of Plenty,” released last week, former Gov. Dave Freudenthal said Wyoming’s aspirational mantra of the “Cowboy Ethic,” defined by ruggedly independent, self-made, carry-your-own weight westerners, is somewhat a farce.
In Wyoming, the study says the earned income equivalent for a family with both parents not working and two dependents, including unemployment and ACA benefits, was $79,294 last year.
A Kroger-Albertsons deal that promises to impact 750 Wyoming grocery workers continues to pursue federal approval, while legal challenges are down to an appeal pending in Washington state.
When the International Pathfinder Camporee rolls into Gillette, it will bring a whopping 55,000 people and an estimated $15 million to $20 million economic impact.
The executive director of Wyoming’s AFL-CIO was critical of Sens. Barrasso and Lummis for voting no on a resolution that would have provided seven days of paid sick leave for rail workers instead of one.
Wyoming-based American CryptoFed Dao will get more time to defend itself against SEC allegations that the company failed to provide even basic financial information when it tried to register two digital tokens.
The wealthiest county in the nation — by a long shot — Teton County’s average per capita income in 2021 jumped 44% over the year before. At $318,000 per year, it’s more than $120,000 than second place Pitkin County, Colorado, home to Aspen.
Since the state Legislature passed a bill legalizing alcohol delivery, Cheyenne, Jackson, Casper and now Rawlins have OK’d alcohol delivery in their communities.
Public pressure likely played a role in Vanguard pulling out of the world’s largest climate-finance alliance, one industry observer told Cowboy State Daily. Asset managers are realizing that the “last thing most people want is their retirement fund pushing progressive politics down their throats,” he said.
The Gillette-based Visionary Broadband has announced a $100 million commitment to expand high-speed internet in many communities across Wyoming including Lusk, Dayton, Yoder, and LaGrange.
Demand for service is rising at regional airports across the state, but a pilot shortage has forced airlines to cut the number of available flights at most of the state’s nine commercial airports.
Wyoming and South Dakota governors say the timber industry would take too big of a hit under a draft plan for managing the Black Hills National Forest. In a letter, they urge the agency to redraft its management plan.
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Wyoming officials see attracting remote workers to the Cowboy State as a way to diversify its labor pool, while remote workers already here say the outdoors and quality of life are why they moved here.
Like most cattle ranchers today, the Meads really needed to diversify their operation to remain profitable. They chose whiskey. Ten years later, Wyoming Whiskey is attracting international attention.
Neighboring Colorado, California and Utah all have large climbing communities. Smart marketing to these nearby enthusiasts could bring thousands more climbers to Wyoming and millions more tourism dollars.
As Wyoming’s treasurer Mark Gordon was an early critic of ‘woke capitalism.’ As governor, he says he’s committed to keeping state financial decisions free from politics. Current state treasurer Curt Meier would not comment.
Although Wyoming hasn’t been hit by roving gangs of criminals like other states, coordinated shoplifting efforts have increased which is driving the cost of goods up across the state.
Although some Wyoming communities reported record sales, crowds by and large felt thin at many stores in Wyoming for Black Friday, and even some Small Business Saturday shopping seemed to take a hit in some areas.
A congressional subcommittee plans to hold hearings next week to investigate the super-sized merger of two grocery store chains that also has been criticized by Wyoming grocery workers.
One repo man told Cowboy State Daily that he believes the 30% increase in car repossession is due to stimulus checks the federal government distributed. He said people just went out and “bought stuff” they couldn’t afford with the money.
Wyoming legislators will try again to become the first state in the nation with its own stable token, along with a chance at billions in revenue if the Cowboy State can market itself successfully as a highly trusted first-mover.
When Wyoming called out Bank of the West for announcing it would divest from fossil fuel investments, the state didn’t have a lot of company. That’s changed, and the recent FTX scandal has highlighted the problem of businesses embracing woke culture.
The Energy Information Administration reports that if diesel prices get much higher, it could trigger serious economic consequences for the country. Wyoming trucking companies continue to haul, but it’s getting expensive.
If the Wyoming Department of Transportation were to follow all the federal guidelines for a program to build and operate EV charging stations along the nation’s roadways, Wyoming would need 17 charging stations at a cost of about $19 million.
About 750 Wyoming Kroger and Albertsons workers keeping tabs on monster merger that could impact their jobs and the food availability landscape across much of the U.S. West.
Wyoming consumers will receive a price shock when shopping for Thanksgiving dinner. Retail prices for fresh boneless, skinless turkey breast hit a new record at $6.70 per pound — 112% higher than the same time last year.
Wyoming’s love for big trucks helped propel the Cowboy State to the top of the list for the number of people with auto payments of $1,000 or more, according to a new Edmunds report.
Wyoming coal and trona mines will be deeply impacted by a rail strike in two weeks, which is a strong possibility. If that happens, layoffs are likely.
Wyoming’s 4% sales and use tax collections were a little more than $1 billion for fiscal year 2022, an increase of 10.1% year over year. That is near the record levels of fiscal year 2015.
Tim Giersch with Papa Johns in Cheyenne would hire 20 full- and part-time people today if he could. But like many other Wyoming businesses, a lack of available workforce has forced the stores to cut hours and close earlier.
Inflation in Wyoming continues to post double-digit increases for transportation and food, based on Wyoming’s latest cost-of-living report. The inflation rate of 10.1% is the highest increase since 1981.
Last year, with the help of investors, the Kerns, sixth generation ranchers in Sheridan County, launched Western Heritage Meats — the third USDA-certified meat processing plant in the state of Wyoming.
While Halloween is the biggest day for candy sales nationwide, that’s not the case for Wyoming’s own candymakers. Cowtown Candy in Cody say Christmas and Thanksgiving are bigger.
According to the Tax Foundation, an independent tax policy non-profit, Wyoming is going into 2023 as having the best tax climate in the nation for doing business.
Wyoming’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Group report for October shows state revenues exceeded January’s predictions by hundreds of millions of dollars.
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Inflation has helped boost sales tax revenues and there are more people working, but Wyoming also reported a 4.8% drop in its GDP for the last quarter, the largest in the Rocky Mountain Region.
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Wyoming legislators are trying again to provide incentives – up to $10 million – for film companies to make Wyoming-centric movies and TV shows in the Cowboy State.
As Wyoming continues to position itself as the hub for the cryptocurrency industry, a fight is brewing in Washington, D.C., over a bill that could establish federal oversight for bitcoin and other crypto markets.
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Longtime Rock Springs grocery worker and union rep says Wyoming should prepare for higher prices and job losses if the proposed multibillion-dollar Kroger-Albertsons merger goes through.
Drought led to high hay prices, and increased feed costs which led to many Wyoming ranchers selling off their herds. That means less money coming in as costs of ranching go up.
A global economic recession would complicate Wyoming’s economic recovery, but the state’s chief economist believes the Cowboy State could weather the worst of it.
A leading University of Wyoming energy economist is skeptical of many of the proposals recommended by a gas tax working group set up by Gov. Mark Gordon
The California-based company that makes high-end pet-grooming supplies is choosing Riverton because of its location and the ability to save on trucking and shipping costs.
Already facing an ongoing egg shortage and dwindling supplies of butter, Wyoming consumers are now being hit with a sugar shortage. “What is a cupcake shop going to do without powdered sugar?” asks the owner of The Sugar Mouse Cupcake House in Laramie.
At 9.6%, Wyoming’s higher-than-average inflation rate is impacting the way people shop. It’s also expected to cause interest rate hikes.
While there’s no shortage of people and entities challenging wind energy projects across Wyoming, you won’t find many Cowboy State ranchers among them.
An extinct volcano in Mississippi could cause beer shortages in Wyoming and all over the country. One Cheyenne bar owner recommends “stocking up.”
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Mayor Patrick Collins says he’s been approached about Cheyenne possibly being considered for a $1.1 billion meat processing plant that would employ more than 2,500 people.
Wyoming businesses struggle to find employees, but sometimes, even when a job candidate accepts a position, they ‘ghost’ the employer and just don’t show up. That trend has been rising for over two years.
California plans to ban all new gas-powered vehicles from the state by 2035. Wyoming car dealers told Cowboy State Daily if that was attempted here, there would be a revolt.
“The Last of Us,” based on a popular 2013 video game, features the town of Jackson in its storyline. Instead of filming in Jackson, however, a town in Canada was transformed into Wyoming for the series.
Crumbl Cookies, which experienced the highest sales growth of any chain in the United States in 2020, is opening a franchise in Cheyenne later this week. Retail observers say the company’s use of social media is partly responsible for its success.
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From bronze sculptures in Sheridan and Gillette to murals in Laramie and Lander, advocates say public art creates community pride which draws visitors and new residents alike to Wyoming.
Cassie and Tommy Orduno employ 27 people in Saratoga, Wyoming (pop. 1,700) while raising two kids. It isn’t easy but they say it’s worth it.
The grand opening of Wyoming’s first Airstream franchise is on August 27 in Etna, Wyoming. To many, Airstreams are as much of an American icon as Harley-Davidson.
Nearly every weekend over the summer in Wyoming, there’s a microbrew festival. The state’s 40 breweries contribute $200 million to the economy.mci
When bikers come through Wyoming on their way to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, they’re bringing more than freedom on two wheels. They’re also bringing an economic boost for the Cowboy State.
Firewood dealers — ranging from small, local sellers to a region-wide commercial operation — said higher fuel costs will translate into higher prices for their products this year
From Dayton Days to the Big Horn County Fair in Basin; Longmire Days in Buffalo to the Goshen County Fair in Torrington – all of these small town celebrations bring together local residents, boost profits for local businesses, and give the local population something to look forward to every year.
The owner of Crowbar and Grill in Laramie said the restaurant’s appearance on the national TV show didn’t influence his decision to sell but is a good selling point for the popular business.
The Presidential Emergency Board is working with railroads and their workers to prevent a labor strike, which would be disastrous for Wyoming and the state’s energy industry.
Sheridan-based ammo company, Absaroka Valley Ammunition, announced on Thursday it is expanding with a new facility which will eventually create between 200 – 250 jobs.
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Reduced forest management on one of the nation’s best managed forests, won’t just see an increase in frequency of beetle infestations, but an increase in severity of wildfires as well, according to Wyoming State Sen. Ogden Driskill.
A Carbon County commissioner told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday that the massive layoffs at the Sinclair refinery will have a “ripple effect” on the county’s economy.
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Record-high diesel costs are the main reason the 26th annual Saratoga Bullfest bullriding competition has been canceled, organizers told Cowboy State Daily on Monday.
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Wyoming’s economy is crawling back to pre-pandemic levels, slowed by lagging recovery in the mining, government and information industries, a top Wyoming economist said.
Gasoline retailers don’t have the kind of authority over the price of their product that President Joe Biden recently implied, according to a Wyoming gas station owners.
Despite Wyoming’s low unemployment rate (3.2%), there are massive shortages of workers in essential fields all across the state. Some police departments are suffering a shortage of 30%.
There’s a shortage of cars for sale in Wyoming and the ones that are on the market are “ridiculously more expensive,” said an automotive specialist from Edmunds.
The Chugwater Chili Cookoff which is being held on Saturday, June 18, started in 1986 as a way to celebrate the best chili in the state. Since then, it has become the town’s biggest fundraiser, with all proceeds invested back into the community.
High fuel prices are forcing an increase in the cost of all other goods in the West, which could lead to a decline in consumer demands for products, Wyoming truckers warned this week.
The Hopkins and the Millers have spent the past several months readying the Tri-County Mercantile for its grand opening, which coincides with this weekend’s 36th annual Chugwater Chili Fest.
The Wyoming Combat Sports Commission last weekend became the first commission to regulate hockey fighting. It’s a new sport that features just the fighting part of hockey.
Loved by some and hated by others, electric scooters are entering their second year in Cheyenne, Casper, and Laramie as all changed their ordinances to allow for shared electric scooters on downtown streets.
Mothers in Wyoming are feeling the pressure as a nationwide shortage of baby formula has left store shelves empty in many locations across the state.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is unique in that it was set in Wyoming and actually filmed in Wyoming. But others shows like Longmire, Joe Pickett, and Outer Range, though set in Wyoming are filmed out-of-state.
Gov Gordon on Monday saluted a firearms manufacturing company which started off in rural Big Horn County in 2016 but now employs 75 people and opened up a facility that is more than 43,000 square feet.
A Cheyenne financial advisor said Wyoming should feel the interest rate hike in three to six months and ultimately the increase is a good idea to stop stagflation.
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Led by a 22% increase in the cost of transportation, Wyoming’s cost of living in the fourth quarter of 2021 grew at the fastest annual rate seen in 40 years.
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Community leaders in Shoshoni say they are refusing the let the town of 471 die. By investing in infrastructure, a high-quality school, and identifying growth opportunities, they believe it can persevere.
Inflation hit a four-decade high last month and for Wyoming residents, every purchase at the grocery store or gas stations feels more and more daunting.
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Buffalo residents who gathered at The Busy Bee on Saturday weren’t that sure about HGTV’s claim that their town needed “kick-starting” for its “Home Town Takeover” TV show which airs on April 24.
Wyoming’s population grew three times the national rate and Wyoming Sen. Cale Case, who is an economist by trade, credits the growth to people “running away” from crowded areas.
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Roger King, owner of Cowboy State Trucking in Kemmerer, said these are the highest fuel prices he’s ever seen, even worse than during the recession in late 2008 and 2009.
Justin Lucht, who owns Valley Raised Beef in Lovell, said there has been a 30% – 70% increase in operating costs including fertilizer up 4 times what it was last year and doubling of price in hay.
Wright resident Crystal O’Bryan said higher fuel costs have already taken a toll on her family. “It’s really hit us hard,” she said. “Our medical expenses have skyrocketed just from the price of gas alone.
Reagan economist Art Laffer on Thursday said Wyoming should not adopt an income tax or use state resources to diversify its economy. Instead, spending should match available resources, he said.
A desire to be closer to family was the main reason people moved to Wyoming in 2021 — the same reason a high number of people questioned by United Van Lines gave for moving out of the state.
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Wyoming’s population growth could be attributed to the arrival of new residents leaving larger cities because of the COVID pandemic.
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