Business Economics and Finance

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (OSBORNE)  --  The number of Tennessee farmers seeking a license to grow hemp is exploding.

The state Department of Agriculture reports it’s  ssued nearly 2800 hemp production permits this year, with still more applications in the pipeline. That’s ten times the number of licenses issued in 2018.

Hemp’s introduction hasn’t been without complications. There have been persistent reports of police mistaking hemp products for marijuana. There have also been reports of hemp supplement users failing workplace drug tests.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (OSBORNE)  --  The personal finance website Wallethub.com is out with a study that points out some of Music City’s growing challenges.

The report compares Nashville to the capital cities of the other 49 states using 54 metrics, including affordability, economic well-being, quality of education and quality of life.

Nashville scored better than most of its neighboring states, but still only ranked 18th in the nation.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT/AP)  --  A new report says Tennessee is punching well above its weight-class when it comes to attracting foreign investment.

Middle Tennessee State University Economist Steven Livingston is out with a study that says foreign companies invested more than $1.5 billion in the state last year. It’s the fourth time in five years Tennessee has hit or exceeded that mark. Livingston also says foreign companies created more than 3,000 new jobs here last year alone.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (OSBORNE)  --  The Tennessee business community appears increasingly worried about the future of the economy.

Middle Tennessee State University  is out with its quarterly Tennessee Business Barometer. The survey shows a drop in confidence among business leaders of about 20 points in just 90 days.

Survey author Dr. Tim Graeff notes the index remains in positive territory, but says respondents are epxressing concernings amid growing economic uncertainty.