BLOOMINGTON Bloomington is known across the state as the home of Indiana University. However, Indiana Business Research Center executive director Phil Powell believes the city needs to think beyond campus to economically thrive.

"When we take a look at how 2025 has been for Bloomington, the news is rough," Powell said during his presentation at the annual Bloomington Futurecast.

Powell and other economists within the IU Kelley School of Business shared their analysis with Bloomington's business leaders. According to Powell, Bloomington's average wages are down six percent in 2025, even as they increased in the United States and in Indiana.

"A lot of the higher-paying jobs at Indiana University have gone unfilled or have not been re-hired," Powell said. "A lot of this is tied to forces o

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