Columbus
The Columbus, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of Bartholomew County in south-central Indiana.* The city of Columbus, located 40 miles south of Indianapolis and known worldwide for its modern architecture, is the area’s principal municipality and its anchor.
* MSAs are defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.Quick Stats
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The Columbus Futurecast Event
The Commons Nugent-Custer Performance Hall & Upper Lobby
300 Washington Street,
Columbus, IN 47201
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Donate »Potential Speakers at the Columbus Futurecast Event
Join us to discuss how the changing economic environment will affect the local region, Indiana and the nation in the coming year.
This event is co-hosted by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, the IU Columbus Division of Business, the IBRC and the Kelley School of Business.
What did we say last year about the Columbus region?
Published December 2025
Columbus's unemployment rate has remained impressively low, stabilizing around 3.6% in mid-2025 after sharp post-pandemic declines. However, the Indiana Business Research Center projects a modest increase to 3.9% unemployment for 2026 — a shift driven by broader economic rebalancing rather than local weakness.
Columbus may experience approximately flat real GDP change (-1.0% to +1.0%) for 2025, similar to 2024. Weakness in the automotive and durable goods sector fueled by continuing high interest rates and combined with low consumer confidence may be key to this scenario. For 2026, Columbus real GDP is projected to increase between 0.0% and 2.0% based on moderation in consumer durable goods spending, increasing revenue for Cummins, reduced economic uncertainty and declining interest rates.
Each year in December, the Indiana Business Research Center publishes a special Outlook edition of the Indiana Business Review.
Published continuously since 1926, the Indiana Business Review is a quarterly publication that provides analysis and insight on economic and demographic issues.