Economic Outlook

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

ty@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.

TRIDEC to assist Hanford investment fund after legal dispute

ty@tcjournal.biz — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0400

An economic development effort that has pumped tens of millions of dollars into the Tri-City economy for more than 30 years is changing how it does business due to a past legal dispute with a prospective recipient of one of its loans.

Ferguson proposes $4B in cuts to Washington state budget

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:25:00 -0400

The governor presented $4 billion in new reductions at the end of February and said he supports another $3 billion in savings former Gov. Jay Inslee proposed in December. This scrub is Ferguson’s first step in addressing an operating budget deficit that Democratic lawmakers say is roughly $12 billion over the next four years. Ferguson pegged the number higher, at $15 billion.

Survey: Washington employers are optimistic, but wary

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:13:21 -0500

Employers across the state are less in the doldrums about what 2025 could have in store for the economy, but rising costs and looming tariffs still have them on edge.

State senator to lead WA Department of Commerce

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 10:02:21 -0500

Governor-elect Bob Ferguson recently announced the appointment to lead the agency, which manages a budget of $7.9 billion and administers more than 100 programs in the areas of housing, energy, community and economic development, local government and business services.

Economy remains steady heading into the new year

rachel@tcjournal.biz — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0500

As a new year approaches, the region’s economy appears to be holding steady, with a bit of a slowdown typical for the winter season.

Tri-Cities is still where companies want to be

ty@tcjournal.biz — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0500

The economic development that’s been synonymous with the Tri-Cities in recent years is primed to continue, experts say.

Covid’s legacy includes elevated labor costs, reshaped market

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0500

Despite the worst of the health crisis having passed, one of its enduring legacies is the sharp rise in labor costs.

Recent economic trends show progress and slowdown

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0500

The latest economic data for the greater Tri-Cities yields a mixed bag of progress and slowdown.

5 steps to take before year-end to help protect against fraud

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0500

While we know we can’t absolutely 100% protect ourselves from those trying to get our personal information and money, following these five recommendations will help.