Why Utah's economy is soaring above its neighbors

NOBODY knows quite how the contagion that broke out in Wall Street will affect the rest of America , nor how deep or how long the likely recession will be. What is certain is that some places will suffer more than others. So far Utah, a state best-known for Mormonism and pretty rocks, is looking unusually healthy. “We've got a lot to be proud of,” says Jon Huntsman, the governor. “Certainly more than many of our neighbours.”

Indeed, Utah has more to be proud of than any other state in the West. In September its unemployment rate was just 3.5%—less than half of California 's and the second-lowest rate in the region after oil- and gas-rich Wyoming. Last month the Milken Institute declared Provo, a sprawling settlement south of Salt Lake City, America 's best-performing city for technology output and job and wage growth. Salt Lake City itself came third. Read the entire article here.