From high gas prices to grounded flights, the Americans are feeling the financial pain.
Now a non partisan, progressive think tank has released a report saying Minnesota's economic indicators are showing that pain by slipping in national rankings.
Joel Runck tells us about the group's findings.

This month a group called Minnesota 20-20 released a report saying Minnesota is slipping toward economic mediocrity.
The group used state data to examine 12 measures ranging from income to unemployment.

"Minnesota is certainly not an economic basket case," said Jeff Van Wychen of Minnesota 2020. " However on 10 of the 12 measures, we've lost ground since 2002."

The group reports since 2002, Minnesota has seen its poverty rate slide from second best in the nation to fifth.
The biggest slide is employment growth, where the state dropped from 27 to 44.

Former state legislator, and Minnesota 20-20 Board Chair, Matt Entenza says more investment is needed in core areas. Entenza blames state leaders for the slippage.

"Not only this governor, but the two probably previous governors and our legislative leaders need to be held accountable," said Matt Entenza, Minnesota 2020 board chair.

The report by Minnesota 20-20 says that since 2004, total state, and local expenditures have fallen below the national average as a percentage of personal income

"City spending statewide is down approximately 11 percent since calendar year 2002 on a per capita basis," said Van Wychen. "Meanwhile county real per capita revenues are down about 13 percent statewide after adjusting for inflation."

City of Duluth officials say the loss of state funding has had the greatest impact on amortization aid-a program related to city pensions.

"We're anticipating about a three million dollar shortfall in those funds coming to the city this year," said Duluth Mayor, Don Ness. "That's actually the vast majority of the 5 million dollar budget deficit that we're facing."

On a more positive note, Minnesota 20-20 reports that the state remains number one in the nation for the percentage of the population with health insurance coverage.