Council on Competitiveness releases latest report.

In late November 2006, the Council on Competitiveness, a group of industrial, university and labor leaders, released its flagship report, Competitiveness Index: Where America Stands. The 2006 index benchmarks current U.S. competitiveness against 20 years of domestic and global economic data. The report analyzes the drivers of U.S. prosperity and economic growth, identifying the major factors impacting its ability to compete in the global economy and assessing its most important strengths and weaknesses.

The Index reported that although income and wealth has increased for Americans as a whole over the past 20 years, the increased challenges from global competition has increased anxiety over such issues as health care costs and managing rising debt. As manufacturing capacity becomes globally available at low cost, its competitive value declines. The report emphasizes that innovation in advanced manufacturing, services and intangibles have become the primary source of value for U.S. companies and American workers.

The Council on Competitiveness is a non-profit, non-partisan policy group that focuses on promoting national economic performance, innovation and workforce development.

For more about the council and the 2006 Competitiveness Index: Where America Stands, go to http://www.compete.org.