Arkansas Vitals under Sarah Huckabee Sanders

While other sites show the latest numbers for the rich people’s casino that is the stock market, Arkansas Vitals tracks the stats that actually impact our lives.  Just as importantly, Real Deal Democrats look at trends over a gubernatorial administration, so that the People can hold the governor accountable.

Under Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansans are worse off in five key quality of life categories and slightly better off in only two key categories.

Employment/Unemployment Rate: Worse under Sanders

Employed Arkansans before Sanders: 97.0%

Employed Arkansans under Sanders: 96.3%

Change: 0.7% decline in employment

Unemployed Arkansans before Sanders: 3.0%

Unemployed Arkansans under Sanders: 3.7%

Change: 0.7% rise in unemployment

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Fitness/Obesity Rate: Worse under Sanders

Fit Arkansans before Sanders: 62.6%

Fit Arkansans under Sanders: 60.0%

Change: 2.6% decline in fitness

Obese Arkansans in 2022: 37.4%

Obese Arkansas under Sanders: 40.0%

Change: 2.6% rise in obesity

Source: Trust for America’s Health

Housed/Homelessness Rate: Worse under Sanders

Housed Arkansans before Sanders: 99.2%

Housed Arkansans under Sanders: 99.1%

Change: 0.1% decline in housed Arkansans

Homeless Arkansans before Sanders: 0.8%

Homeless Arkansans under Sanders: 0.9%

Change: 0.1% rise in homelessness

Source: United States Census Bureau

Income Inequality: Better under Sanders

Income Inequality in Arkansas before Sanders: 0.4799

Income Inequality in Arkansas under Sanders: 0.4740

Change: 1.23% rise in income equality/1.23% decline in income inequality

Note: The closer to 0 the more equal is income; the closer to 1 the more unequal is income.

Source: United States Census Bureau

Life Expectancy: Awaiting Data

Life expectancy for Arkansans before Sanders: 72.5

Source: National Vital Statistics Reports

Per Capita Income: Better under Sanders

Average Arkansan salary before Sanders: $55,299

Average Arkansan salary under Sanders: $55,496

Change: 0.36% raise or $197 more per year

Note: adjusted for inflation to reflect 2022 dollars

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis

Pollution: Awaiting Data

Air pollution in Arkansas before Sanders: 88.293 MMT

Source: Environmental Protection Agency

Razorbacks: Worse under Sanders

Before Sanders: 369 wins-133 losses for a .735 winning percentage

Under Sanders: 314 wins-185 losses for a .629 winning percentage

Change: 14% decline in Razorback winning percentage

Source: Razorbacks Baseball, Basketball (men’s and women’s), Football, Soccer, and Softball

Note: This will be updated to include earlier years as new seasons conclude

Safety/Violent Crime Rate: Awaiting Data

Percent of Arkansans who were safe from violent crime before Sanders: 93.6%

Percent of Arkansans who were victims of violent crime before Sanders: 6.5%

Source: Arkansas Criminal Justice Data Snapshot

Uneducated/Educated Rate: Worse under Sanders

Percent of Arkansans without a college degree before Sanders: 74.7%

Percent of Arkansans without a college degree under Sanders: 74.9%

Change: .2% increase in uneducated rate

Percent of Arkansans with a college degree before Sanders: 25.3%

Percent of Arkansans with a college degree under Sanders: 25.1%

Change: .2% decrease in percent of Arkansans with a college degree

Source: United States Census Bureau