Moody's Talks - Muniland Moody's Investors Service

Local governments face a loss of economic vitality and tax revenue as the working-age population declines. Meanwhile, a tighter labor supply remains a chronic issue for the hospital sector.

As water shortages threaten to curb economic growth, governments in many parts of the country are stepping up investment in water management and conservation.

Suspension of commercial shipping in the Suez Canal and reduced activity in the drought-afflicted Panama Canal have the potential to reduce revenue at key US ports.

Pension liabilities for large local governments are falling because of higher interest rates. This dynamic — and greater contributions — bodes well for credit quality, though investment risk lingers.

While pandemic pain lingers, our higher education outlook has improved to stable from negative as revenue grows, margins steady and balance sheets remain generally healthy.

We have revised our outlook for the US not-for-profit healthcare sector to stable from negative as a recovery takes hold, largely driven by a slowdown in the growth rate of labor costs.