Minnesota Putting Wisconsin Economy To Shame

Scott Walker says he's reformed Wisconsin to "prosperity" though we rank 44th/47th/49th on various job and growth rankings - - but a look across the border shows there's more to begrudge Minnesota than the Vikes' signing ex-Packer Greg Jennings.

From the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Minnesota’s economy grew faster in 2012 than it has in nearly a decade, spurred by broad gains in manufacturing, wholesale trade, finance and insurance, and real estate rental and leasing. 

The state’s gross domestic product surged 3.5 percent over the previous year, the fifth-fastest pace in the nation and Minnesota’s best year since 2004, according to figures released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

“We are in an economic expansion here,” said Toby Madden, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. “The Minnesota economy is doing pretty well.”

And earlier, from Minnesota Public Radio:

As we've noted in several posts (find them here and here) Wisconsin talks a better game than it plays when it comes to economic success. The facts show Minnesota performed better than the Badger State in keeping people employed during the Great Recession and adding jobs in the recovery .

Now, though, new data show Minnesota may be starting to pull away.