Archive

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

A Different Animal

Recessions often follow a predictable course. The 2001-03 recession, triggered by the dot-com bust and the 9/11 aerospace downturn, is an example...The current downturn is a different animal and not just because of its highly uncertain track.

Volume: 17 - Number: 1

Leading Index Title:

Special Topic Title: Bubbles and Transparency

Authors:

  • Dick Conway
  • Doug Pedersen

Good Cheer

End of year is a fitting time to sum things up. Economic statistics for 2006 have not been finalized, but so far the numbers look good. The 3.5 percent gain in Puget Sound employment, if it holds up, will be the best showing in eight years.

Volume: 14 - Number: 4

Leading Index Title:

Special Topic Title: Population Change

Authors:

  • Dick Conway
  • Doug Pedersen

Brush-Off

Typically, it takes more than one thing to lift an economy up or drag it down. In 1997, boosted by strong national growth, a cyclical upturn at Boeing, and the dot-com boom, Puget Sound employment jumped 5.1 percent.

Volume: 13 - Number: 4

Leading Index Title:

Special Topic Title: Entrepreneurs

Authors:

  • Dick Conway
  • Doug Pedersen

Good Show

One thing about the bottom of a recession, the prospects are good. After shedding five percent of its employment during the slump, the Puget Sound region finally got things turned around in the middle of 2003.

Volume: 13 - Number: 3

Leading Index Title:

Special Topic Title: Socio-Economic Rankings

Authors:

  • Dick Conway
  • Doug Pedersen

Down the Road

Despite bumps along the way, the Puget Sound economy has enjoyed a good ride. Since 1970 employment has expanded at an average annual rate of 3.3 percent, faster than the 2.1 percent national rate.

Volume: 7 - Number: 3

Leading Index Title:

Special Topic Title: Regional Forecasting

Authors:

  • Dick Conway
  • Doug Pedersen

Still Some Questions

In spite of much turmoil--a volatile stock market, the Asian flu, red ink at Boeing, and anti-trust investigations at Microsoft--nothing has changed, or so it seems.

Volume: 6 - Number: 1

Leading Index Title:

Special Topic Title: Housing Affordability

Authors:

  • Dick Conway
  • Doug Pedersen

Not Much New

At the risk of being accused of shirking our duty, we present pretty much the same forecast as last time. In fact, the projected Puget Sound employment growth rates are exactly the same: 5.0 percent in 1997 and 3.5 percent in 1998.

Volume: 5 - Number: 2

Leading Index Title:

Special Topic Title: International Trade

Authors:

  • Dick Conway
  • Doug Pedersen