Economic forecasts,
for the greater Seattle area.
Consider us your research center, providing you answers in easy to understand language and charts.
Established in 1993, The Puget Sound Economic Forecaster is a quarterly report published by the Center for Economic and Business Research at Western Washington University which acquired the publication in 2017 from its founders, Conway Pedersen Economics, Inc.
The report and website are designed for business executives, marketing directors, investors, government managers, and researchers who need a professional and objective view on the economic prospects for the Puget Sound region (King County, Kitsap County, Pierce County, and Snohomish County).
Our goal is to provide accurate and well-reasoned forecasts for the region as well as clear and insightful observations on important developments in the economy.
In-Depth Regional Economic Outlook
The first issue of the
Puget Sound Economic Forecaster,
a quarterly report,
was published in December 1993.
Each report contains a summary forecast, in-depth discussion of the regional outlook, forecasts and analyses of retail sales and construction and real estate, a special topic (e.g., China and Population Change), a detailed forecast table, and the Puget Sound Index of Leading Economic Indicators.
To facilitate research and analysis on the regional economy, every issue of the regional economic report is archived as a downloadable PDF file in the Subscriber Area. A comprehensive Subject Index of the archived reports has been developed to aid in the retrieval of information.
Reports are posted to the web site one to two weeks before the printed copy is mailed.
Sample Report – Data, Trade and Trends [Volume 27, Number 2, June 2019]
With thoughts of the long warm days of summer on our minds, we have found ourselves interrupted pondering about the price of avocados and how the latest round of tariff threats that may impact retail sales and the general economy overall. Thoughts of spending time at the lake or river have found us considering stream flows and how the change in our climate may impact all of the people and businesses that rely on water in one way or another. Daydreams of patio and deck BBQs have caused us to reflect on changes in house prices and the sudden growth in sales outside of the King County – is it more commuters or are jobs moving? Will the Seattle to Everett corridor retain its worst traffic in the nation ranking? Evidently, economists are bad at not thinking about things. All of the above is ahead in this edition of the Forecaster plus a better understanding of workforce participation and the state forecast. We will just call it the beach edition.
Additional Features
In addition to the Quarterly Report,
we regularly publish
Additional Feature Reports
Breaking News
What We Are Following in the News
The stock market extended last week's gains despite the FOMC’s decision to keep the benchmark interest rate unchanged. The US-Iran peace deal drove equity markets higher and oil prices down. US crude inventory declined another 8.3 million barrels for the week ending June 12 and now stands at 418.2 million barrels, the lowest level in 40 years. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz should bring some relief for the US oil reserve. Industrial production slowed in May but remained at 1.7% above last year's levels. The housing sector continues to disappoint with May housing starts well below expectations. Pending home sales were strong in May, but the trend is likely to reverse in June based on MBA mortgage applications that were down 3.8% for the week ending June 13. Retail sales were stronger than expected in May, despite higher prices. Import prices accelerated 1.9% in May after growing 2.0% in April with oil prices accounting for most of the increase. Excluding oil prices, import prices were up 0.8%. Export prices rose 1.3%. The labor market remains resilient. Initial jobless claims for the week ending June 13 decreased by 4,000 to 226,000. The Conference Board Leading Economic Index edged up 0.1% in May, following a 0.2% increase in April. For the first time since June 2022 the index was up year over year. @Chmura Economics & Analytics
New research from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half shows that professionals are reassessing their careers, and many are preparing to make a move in the second half of 2026. A survey of more than 2,000 U.S. professionals found that 46% plan to look for a new job in the next 6 months, up from 38% in the first half of 2026 and 27% one year ago. https://buff.ly/TpDByAt
The cost of lubricants like motor oil is rising rapidly, and even a tentative agreement to end the war in Iran will not alleviate the issue. Motor oil is essential for protecting your car's engine from wear and tear. The oil used in synthetic motor oil, in particular, is not produced in large quantities in the U.S. In addition, the U.S. has the largest trade deficit in the world for this form of oil. The current shortage could lead to significantly higher costs for your next oil change. https://buff.ly/vYlcsKt
Questions? We Love Questions!
We receive a wide-range of questions every day and would love to hear yours. Questions lead to data and data should lead to better questions.
Special Topics
Special topics in each report
intended to increase the
reader’s understanding of
how the Puget Sound economy works
Past topics include regional growth, labor productivity, demographic trends, inflation, multipliers, entrepreneurs, and state and local taxes.
Web site subscribers currently have access to more than fifty special topics. Here are four examples drawn from the Special Topic Archive:
Stream Flow [Volume 27, Number 2, June 2019]
Is Traffic Real? [Volume 27, Number 1, March 2019]
Labor Force and Population [Volume 26, Number 4, December 2018]
Forest Fires [Volume 26, Number 3, September 2018]
Subscribe To Our Report
and Get Ahead of the Curve
Need More Info? Contact Us with Your Questions
Join Current Subscribers Like
