Center for Business and Economic Research - Ball State University

Welcome to the Ball State CBER Data Center!

The CBER Data Center is a digital home for the economic data projects and public policy research produced by the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University.

Browse our projects below, or visit the CBER website for more information about our work.

Close-up of assorted graphs in a printed report. Photo by Ball State CBER.

Projects and Publications Library

CBER research provides insight into economic issues that affect communities, businesses, and households in Indiana and beyond.

Our library includes an archive of published work searchable by topic and project partner.

https://projects.cberdata.org

Close-up of U.S. paper currency. Photo by Avinash Kumar, Unsplash.

Economic Indicators

Economic indicators are commonly used to measure the economy at the local, state, and national level.

These data include earnings and employment by industry, prices for producers and consumers, and monetary measures.

https://indicators.cberdata.org

Michael Hicks, director of Ball State CBER, stands at a podium with an American flag in the background.

Hicks Weekly Commentary

CBER Director Michael Hicks shares his perspective on current issues in business, government, and society.

The views expressed here do not represent any funder or entity associated with Ball State University or its governing body.

https://commentaries.cberdata.org

View of a park with a pond and small groups of picnic-goers on a sunny day. Photo by Lison Zhao, Unsplash.

Archived Site: Community Asset Inventory and Rankings (CAIR)

Browse county-level metrics in eight categories that influence local quality of life and economic conditions in Indiana communities.

https://cair.cberdata.org

A worker with protective helmet and gloves produces a shower of sparks while grinding a piece of metal. Photo by Josh Beech, Unsplash.

Archived Site: Manufacturing and Logistics Scorecard

Compare state-level performance in several areas of the economy that affect the success of the manufacturing and logistics industries.

https://mfgscorecard.cberdata.org

Overhead view into brown paper bags of groceries, including apples, bagels, bananas, and a head of cabbage. Photo by Maria Lin Kim, Unsplash.

Partner: C2ER Cost of Living Index

The Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) collects average pricing data to calculate and compare the average cost of living in cities across the USA.

Ball State CBER participates in the COLI project as a local data partner.

External site: http://coli.org/ca