South Dakota's is the worst economy in the US

After South Dakota's governor signed a bill into law that discriminates against some couples who want to adopt a California-led boycott has queered Denny Daugaard's pitch.

South Dakota was only one of two states with negative GDP growth in Q4 2017, with the state's GDP declining by 0.5%. The state's April 2018 average weekly wage of $754 was fourth-lowest in the country, but its unemployment rate of 3.4% was lower than the average rate of 4.0% among the states and DC. [Business Insider]

Personal income growth in South Dakota was the slowest in the United States in the third quarter of 2017, too.

South Dakota’s disappointing performance was driven primarily by a 0.1% decline in earnings (wages and salaries, and proprietor’s income). Investment income rose 0.1%, and transfer receipts—payments under programs like Social Security—rose 0.4%. The state also experienced marginal declines in forestry, fishing and related activities (-0.54%), construction (-0.43%), retail trade (-0.23%), and arts, entertainment and recreation (-1.61%). [South Dakota Dashboard]

How bad is it?

It's so bad that of nineteen state and three US territory governors only seven showed up at the Western Governors Association conference hosted by Denny in Rapid City.

Thoughts? Prayers?

Our apologies. It looks like the story was taken down. We found the Business Insider study the quote was referencing, and it turns out the article was incorrect. We're not dead last, but 4th from last - just like we are in our ethics laws. https://t.co/q0a3eAtYap

— SD Democratic Party (@SoDakDems) June 26, 2018

South Dakota has the largest employment gap between American Indians and Whites in the nation, according to recent estimates from the U.S. Census. Learn more: https://t.co/oQfD3uuxDx #SDbythenumbers

— SD Dashboard (@SDdashboard) December 28, 2017