Austin economic breezes riding tailwind

AUSTIN – For 2013, all signs suggest Austin’s economic breezes will keep riding the tailwind it has enjoyed the past few years. Fueled by its steady population growth and strong job market growth, the Central Texas economy should continue to outpace most other areas of the country.

Local economic consultant Angelos Angelou, head of Angelou Economics, estimated that the region will add 28,800 new jobs in 2013, growth of more than 3 percent.

The mobile technology revolution swept across the tech industry like a tsunami in 2012 and it could have a similarly profound effect in high-tech companies in Austin and elsewhere in 2013.

Some of the fast-growing tech companies in town — including Apple Inc., Samsung, Cirrus Logic, Intel Corp., Mutual Mobile and even newcomer Visa Inc. and server chip startup Calxeda Inc. — all have mobile aspects to their business.

Apple won major state and local government incentives to do its expanding here. So did Visa Inc., the global payments giant, which expects to create nearly 800 jobs here over the next five years as it builds a global information technology center at 12301 Research Blvd.

It was a strong 2012 for Austin startups raising venture capital, and the money is expected to keep coming in 2013.

During the first three quarters 2012, 56 Austin companies raised $474 million. That’s a 13 percent increase from the same period the year before.

Read more at the Austin American-Statesman.