The Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana says the Bakken Oil Fields and pushing up the demand for infrastructure and day labor, medical fields are growing, Montana home prices appear to have started rebounding and farmers felt the effects of the drought but not as badly as those in other parts of the nation.  

Now for the bad news.

The bureau reports that energy and commodity prices are sputtering abroad and people are fearful of a shutdown of  US government operations or a default on federal debt.  

The bureau says the bottom line is that Montana is set for fast growth in coming years but that it hinges on critical decisions coming up in Washington, DC.