Dear Friend, 

Pittsburgh's composite cost of living in 2011 is well below the benchmark average and fourth lowest among benchmark regions according to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index. Pittsburgh ranked lowest among benchmark regions in health care costs, second lowest in housing and highest in transportation.  

Pittsburgh is in the middle of the pack, ranking eighth among the 15 benchmark regions in venture capital investment for the second quarter of 2011.   Pittsburgh VC investment rose $13 million to $114 million from the second quarter of 2010, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree Report.

In 2010, Greater Pittsburgh saw a decline in overall energy employment and also in employment in energy extraction. 2010 regional employment, however, grew in the categories of energy generation and energy supply chain. To compare 2010 energy employment in various sectors with previous years, click on one of the links above.

Pittsburgh coal barge traffic fell 11 percent in July to 5,459 barges, down from 6,159 barges in June. July barge numbers also were down from July 2010, when 6,288 barges passed through the Port of Pittsburgh. Non-coal barge traffic in July dipped slightly to 2,293, down from 2,299 in June. However, July's non-coal barge traffic is up nearly 20 percent over July 2010. 

Sincerely,

Doug Heuck

Program Director

PittsburghTODAY