SUMMARY

The Columbia metro area economy continues to improve, but slowly. Residential construction is a shining star; new building permits are up 120 percent over last year, and median home prices have increased 5.4 percent. Major commercial construction projects have also buoyed the economy, with nearly $8 million under construction in May, up 18.3 percent over 2010. But unemployment, tax receipts and home sales still lag behind last year’s figures.