The University of Illinois’ Flash Index, a measure of the overall performance of the Illinois economy, recently reported an increase for the second month in a row in June. The Flash index is “the weighted average of Illinois growth rates in corporate earnings, consumer spending, and personal income as estimated from receipts for corporate income,Continue reading “U of I Flash Index continues to trend upward”
Monthly Archives: July 2026
The Illinois municipality with the worst bond rating
Riverdale, a small municipality of roughly 10,000 residents, is in trouble. In April of this year, Fitch Ratings downgraded Riverdale’s Issuer Default Rating (IDR) from B‑ to CCC‑, citing reasons such as low margin for servicing obligation, weakened financial profile, negative general fund reserves, very limited liquidity, and deferral of pension spending. With Fitch’s downgrade,Continue reading “The Illinois municipality with the worst bond rating”
Mid-year update on the State Pension System
Illinois pensions remain significantly underfunded, but the trajectory has improved over the last several years due to full statutory payments, supplemental contributions, and strong investment markets. Earlier this year in February, Gov. Pritzker announced a path to full funding by 2048, building on a 2024 multi-tiered pension plan and recent credit upgrades. The administration plansContinue reading “Mid-year update on the State Pension System”
Prairie State Policy 