Economist: Alaska is in a recession

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – A state labor department economist says Alaska is in a recession, facing job losses across most sectors of the economy amid chronically low oil prices.
Caroline Schultz says the recession likely began at the end of 2015.
Job numbers released by the department Friday show average monthly employment in the first half of 2016 was down 5,530 jobs, or about 1.6 percent, compared to the same period in 2015.
The oil and gas industry was especially hard hit during that period