Ag Losses, Tariffs Stall Louisiana's Wage Growth

By Greg Hilburn, The News-Star, Monroe

Louisiana's wage growth was cut in half during the third quarter, dragged down primarily by agriculture losses caused by tariffs and flooding. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported wages grew at 2.3 percent during the third quarter, down from 4.8 percent in the second quarter and down from a robust 6.6 percent in the first quarter.