Archive

Down but Not Out – September 2019

Oh, Fall time! The leaves, the crisp air, a time when everything seems to slow down. It appears that the mood is impacting the forecasts (national, state and regional) with a significant mix of declining indices. As we prepare this edition of the Forecaster new tariffs are likely to raise the prices of everyday items for consumers. Consumer spending (and confidence) from retail to homes are likely to be impacted. Much like the fall weather you will notice both sun and rain in our updated forecasts: declines in a number of areas for both the Puget Sound area and the State with pockets of increases to balance it out (somewhat). Should you panic? Signs are mixed as they say but we do not think so. We have had our eyes on a lot of moving parts this past quarter. If you follow us on your favorite social media feed, you have seen us call out many of these from airplanes to the tech sector and net migration trends to automation. There is a lot to pay attention to. You rely on the forecast and in this issue, we analyze just how reliable the forecast has been short story, much better than the weather forecast. We also explore how technological changes may impact labor data. Grab your galoshes and dive in there is a lot to explore.

Volume: 27 - Number: 3

Leading Index Title:

Special Topic Title:

Authors:

  • Hart Hodges
  • Josh Grandbouche
  • James McCafferty

June 2019 Newsletter – Data, Trade and Trends

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.

Volume: 27 - Number: 2

Leading Index Title: Not Yet

Special Topic Title: Stream Flow

Authors:

  • Hart Hodges
  • Josh Grandbouche
  • James McCafferty

2018 Stimulus Still Visible in Forecast

The past 30 days have been exciting between major news regarding and impacting Amazon and Boeing and continuing developments in policy at both the federal and state level there has been most things to consider as we construct and analyze the forecast. We wish this was all there is to consider but the list of things to watch continues to make it complicated. This quarter, we see a small uptick in our key metrics despite background noise that is making some nervous. In the pages ahead we explore: the retail apocalypse, the quickly swinging housing indexes and the economics of traffic. In addition, we look at the rise in online retail employment and the greater Washington State forecast.

Volume: 27 - Number: 1

Leading Index Title:

Special Topic Title: Is Traffic Real?

Authors:

  • Hart Hodges
  • Josh Grandbouche
  • James McCafferty

Thank You – October 2017

One theme in this Outlook is the more things change, the more they stay the same. It's a new quarter with plenty of developments. From Harvey and Irma to the security problems at Equifax, as well as the uncertainty surrounding interest rates and geopolitical risks with North Korea, we have plenty of new things to consider.

Volume: 25 - Number: 3

Leading Index Title:

Special Topic Title: The Cost of Housing

Authors:

  • Hart Hodges
  • James McCafferty

Long Shot

Grading a forecasting record based on short-term predictions is akin to cheating. How far off can one be on a one-year-ahead forecast?

Volume: 24 - Number: 3

Leading Index Title:

Special Topic Title: Agglomeration

Authors:

  • Dick Conway
  • Doug Pedersen

End in Sight

This decade has been "just one damn thing after another." Who would have imagined our string of bad luck: the dot-com implosion, 9/11, the housing bubble and credit crunch, and soaring energy prices? Or was it bad luck?

Volume: 17 - Number: 3

Leading Index Title:

Special Topic Title: Washington Tax Structure

Authors:

  • Dick Conway
  • Doug Pedersen

As the Nation Turns

Like it or not, the Puget Sound region has little control over its economic destiny, at least in the short run. World air travel dictates how many commercial jets Boeing will sell. Volatile housing markets in California and Japan generate production swings at Weyerhaeuser lumber mills. The incomes of many Seattle fishermen are made or lost in Alaskan waters.

Volume: 8 - Number: 4

Leading Index Title:

Special Topic Title: Consumer Price Index

Authors:

  • Dick Conway
  • Doug Pedersen

Looking Both Ways

While economic analysts trained their eyes on the financial turmoil in Asia, they failed to see an equally significant development at home: the drop in the personal savings rate to zero and the consequent jump in consumption.

Volume: 7 - Number: 2

Leading Index Title:

Special Topic Title: Growth Management

Authors:

  • Dick Conway
  • Doug Pedersen