Economic Outlook

Kraken CEO: ‘Fear in the business community’

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Tod Leiweke, CEO of the Kraken NHL team and one of the key figures pushingto return the SuperSonics NBA franchise to Seattle, dished up some economic words of warning for state lawmakers on July 16.

You can’t control the economy, but you can control this

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The economy will keep doing what economies do. It will surprise you and worry you, and that’s not going to change. What can change is how prepared you are when it does.

Tri-Cities has more workers but also more people out of work

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Unemployment in the Tri-Cities continued its regular seasonal decline in May and more people have jobs than a year ago, but the number of unemployed workers also has grown.

With cracks showing in WA economy, Ferguson forms new council to look for fixes

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The 26-member council, which includes Columbia Basin College president Rebekah Woods, will serve as a venue for “candid discussions,” Ferguson said, adding that he plans to attend every quarterly meeting. The Democratic governor said Washington hasn’t convened such a panel in two decades.

Federal energy bill brings mixed news for Hanford, PNNL workers

ty@tcjournal.biz — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Thousands of Tri-Cities workers at the Hanford nuclear site and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are watching a federal budget process that could determine whether a second consecutive year of deep job cuts can be avoided.

Small businesses feel the pain at the pump

ty@tcjournal.biz — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Small business owners in the Tri-Cities say surging gas prices are forcing tough decisions.

Inflation spiked to 4.2%, a three-year high, in May

thenderson@stateline.org — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Consumer price inflation reached 4.2% in May, the highest mark in three years, boosted largely by higher energy prices that have spiked because of the Iran war, according to federal numbers released on June 10.

WA governor’s office warns agencies to prepare for ‘significant budget shortfalls’

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

State agency leaders received a dire warning from Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office on June 5 that they’re headed toward “what will likely be the most challenging budget any of us has yet faced.”

Confidential buyer considers major project at Pasco industrial hub

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Another company is showing interest in the Port of Pasco’s fast-filling Reimann Industrial Center.

Survey: WA business owner pessimism continues to rise

Tue, 05 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

State business advocates say more employers are looking to exit the state, largely because of increasing tax burdens.

Mid-Columbia senators say legislative session yielded few wins

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:30:00 -0400

Mid-Columbia Republican state senators say the 2026 Washington legislative session delivered few wins for local businesses, agriculture and economic development projects, raising concerns about taxes, the state budget and regional priorities.

Washington’s competitive edge is eroding

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Washington has long been a high-cost state for employers, but new data show the state is increasingly losing its competitive edge in key areas.

Buyers, sellers on more equal footing in Tri-City housing market

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Despite a government shutdown, hundreds being laid off at the region’s largest employer and growing costs for everything from fuel to food, homes still moved and prices continued to inch upward, albeit at a slower rate than in recent years, leading to a more balanced market for buyers and sellers alike.

Survey: 44% of employers consider moving due to rising costs

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

A recent survey of business owners living in Washington state indicates many are looking to move their personal residence out of the state, though many of them would continue to operate their business in the state.

Study: U.S. firms, consumers shoulder nearly all costs of tariffs

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

The tariffs on international goods that the Trump administration has said would extract substantial revenues from foreign governments and companies has done quite the opposite, according to a German economic policy think tank.

These top stories reveal a shifting economic landscape

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Our most-read online stories of the year paint a picture of our economy, where opportunity and challenge exist side by side.

Rising bankruptcies signal ongoing financial strain in Tri-Cities

rachel@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Bankruptcies have been on the rise in Benton and Franklin counties and across Eastern Washington since a low point in 2022, and the rate doesn’t look like it will come down just yet.

Design firms look to 2026 with confidence as clients keep building

rachel@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Overall, the outlook for 2026 is a positive one, with a relatively steady flow of work going into 2026, according to local design firms who are frequently working on projects months before any dirt is moved on the ground.

State of regional economy is a mixed bag at start of year

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

This column’s summary of the region’s key economic factors is a mixed bag. My hunch is that a read of the 2026 greater Tri-Cities economy is likely to retain this ambivalence.

Meet the Tri-Cities’ newest port commissioners

rachel@tcjournal.biz — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 12:00:00 -0500

The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business reached out to the three commissioners-elect to learn more about their top priorities. Here’s what they had to say.

Credit rater lowers outlook for Washington state

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 21:00:00 -0500

One of the nation’s most prominent credit rating agencies has downgraded its assessment of Washington state’s credit rating.

Survey: Nearly 1 in 4 delaying or canceling major purchases due to shutdown

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 21:00:00 -0400

The federal government shutdown is exacerbating an already strained economy, according to one survey.

Sen. Murray: DOE claims ‘safety issue’ is holding up vit plant progress

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

The Trump administration’s top official at the U.S. Department of Energy has reportedly told a Washington senator that he is stalling operations at a critical Hanford site facility that is weeks away from beginning operations – though his office says otherwise.

Report: Tariffs could cost WA billions of dollars in coming years

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

Washington’s grocery prices could grow more than 16% if President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs are allowed to continue, predicts a new state report released Thursday.

Survey: WA employers uneasy amid tax and tariff challenges

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:00:00 -0400

The latest survey of hundreds of employers across Washington state indicates they remain tense in light of increased state taxes, impacts from tariffs and other issues.

Trump, Congressional Republicans propose big cuts for Western renewable energy labs, research

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 11:00:00 -0400

WA drops out of top 10 list for business-friendly states

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 21:00:00 -0400

For the first time in more than a decade, Washington state has dropped out of the top 10 on CNBC’s annual ranking of the best states for business.

Officials praise more balanced salmon report, urge broader recovery plan

ty@tcjournal.biz — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 11:00:00 -0400

The latest state salmon report highlights some bright spots in salmon and steelhead populations, and local officials hope it helps initiate conversations that lead to a more unified and broad approach to recovery efforts.

WA Commerce chief warns tariff fallout could hit state hard

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 09:54:33 -0400

Washington is among the most trade-dependent states in the nation, with more than $58 billion in exports in 2024 and 40% of jobs tied to trade. According to the governor’s office, new and retaliatory tariffs could cost the state’s agriculture sector $7.5 billion, with significant hits expected to apples, cherries, potatoes, wheat and dairy.

Survey: More WA business owners now expect a recession

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:38:23 -0400

Of the 444 respondents to the Association of Washington Business’ quarterly survey of employers, 44% say they expect the state to enter a recession in the next year. That’s up from 17% in the prior survey.