Business

WASHINGTON (AP/WMOT) — Federal statistics out Thursday show the nation’s economy grew at a decidedly anemic pace last year, but the economic news is much better for one at least one mid-state county.

The Commerce Department says the U.S. economy grew at an annual rate 0.4 percent in last year’s final quarter. Analysts think the nation's economy is growing at much faster clip in the current quarter; perhaps as much as 2.5 percent.

Trailblazing state House Speaker Beth Harwell took a few moments before receiving a special award from MTSU Thursday (March 21) to share stories of other women who blazed a trail across Tennessee in the past three-plus centuries.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — Tennessee's unemployment rate for February was 7.8 percent, up a tenth from January’s figure.

The state's jobless rate has risen the past two months, up from 7.6 percent in December.

The Department of Labor’s Jeff Hentschel says at least some of the increase can be attributed to seasonal factors.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) --  It’s looking more and more like Middle Tennessee’s housing market has turned the corner.

Candy Joyce is with the Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors.

“The phones are ringing, people are buying, investment properties are moving and folks are ready to get back in the market again.”

Joyce says that in Rutherford County the average home sales price has jumped $6,000 in the past year to more than $163,000. She also says the average time a home stays on the market is falling.