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Never look a gift horse in the mouth, we're told. With that in mind, there is no denying that a federal report showing West Virginia had both the highest personal income and gross domestic product growth in the nation is good news.
Personal incomes here were up 5.6% during the first quarter of the year. GDP increased by 5.2%.
Some observers warn the increases were from construction projects that will end this year, taking higher wages with them.
And, it has been pointed out, our growth comes from a very low base. Only two states, Arkansas and Mississippi, have lower median annual incomes than our $44,061.
Still, the news was good -- as long as policymakers in Charleston view it with caution. The task now is to find ways to keep those growth rates going -- and to keep growth in government from outpacing that in West Virginia's economy.