Last May, after presenting an optimistic outlook, we posed the following question: could it be even better? With each new report out of The Boeing Company, the answer seems to be yes.
Download the NewsletterVolume: 4 - Number: 4
Leading Index Title:
Special Topic Title: Regional Forecasting
Authors:
The Puget Sound economy, playing the role of the comeback kid, has performed better during the second half of the last three decades. As if on cue, it shifted into high gear at the start of 1996.
Download the NewsletterVolume: 4 - Number: 3
Leading Index Title:
Special Topic Title: Washington Commercial Banks
Authors:
Forecasting turning points is difficult. Thus, in February, when we called for the Puget Sound economy to break out of its five-year sluggish state, we crossed a couple of fingers.
Download the NewsletterVolume: 4 - Number: 2
Leading Index Title:
Special Topic Title: Rest of Washington
Authors:
If the national economy holds up, the Puget Sound region stands a good chance of breaking out of its five-year pattern of sub-par growth. But much hinges upon developments at The Boeing Company, Intel Corp., and Microsoft Corporation.
Download the NewsletterVolume: 4 - Number: 1
Leading Index Title:
Special Topic Title: Regional Growth
Authors:
After failing to negotiate a new contract with The Boeing Company, 22,500 aerospace machinists walked off the job in October. Each week, the striking workers forfeit $18 million in wages.
Download the NewsletterVolume: 3 - Number: 4
Leading Index Title:
Special Topic Title: Inflation
Authors:
In spite of an unexpected decline in employment this spring, Blue Chip economists contend that the "odds of a (national) recession this year or next are modest." Evidence supporting this opinion includes a confident consumer, lower mortgage rates, a weak dollar (lifting exports), and strong capital spending.
Download the NewsletterVolume: 3 - Number: 3
Leading Index Title:
Special Topic Title: Changing Demographics
Authors:
Although the Puget Sound region, as a general rule, neither leads nor lags the nation during business cycles, it is currently behind. The loss of 37,300 aerospace jobs over a six-year period has delayed a local recovery, causing the region to trail the rest of the country.
Download the NewsletterVolume: 3 - Number: 2
Leading Index Title:
Special Topic Title: Puget Sound Exports
Authors:
Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States increased 4.0 percent in 1994, the highest growth rate since 1984. But the inability of consumers to maintain their torrid spending pace, capacity constraints in the production sector, and recent hikes in interest rates by the Federal Reserve are indications that the national economy is headed for a slowdown.
Download the NewsletterVolume: 3 - Number: 1
Leading Index Title:
Special Topic Title: Importance of Manufacturing
Authors:
There is mounting evidence that the recent jump in interest rates is slowing the national economy. Higher borrowing costs have reduced auto sales and slowed the growth of single-family construction.
Download the NewsletterVolume: 2 - Number: 3
Leading Index Title:
Special Topic Title: Regional Forecasting
Authors:
The outlook for the Puget Sound region has improved. Following a surge in growth in the fourth quarter of 1993, the Blue Chip panel of national economists raised their forecasts of real Gross Domestic Product to 3.7 percent in 1994 and 2.9 percent in 1995.
Download the NewsletterVolume: 2 - Number: 1
Leading Index Title:
Special Topic Title: Defense Spending
Authors:
