By Jim Cline

Recent economic news has been characterized as tepid at best, but the most recent Washington State Department of Revenue report offers one of our clearest recent indicators that a solid economic recovery may be underway, at least in Washington State.  The recently released Department of Revenue First Quarter Sales tax numbers show a statewide jump from the preceding 12 months (Quarter 1, 2012) of 8 percent.  The City sales tax numbers can be found here. The County numbers can be found here. [Read more…]

By Jim Cline

The March 2013 report of the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council  identifies the continued mixed economic signals from both the National and State economy. The key findings of the Council for the National economy included:

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By Christopher Casillas

The Washington State Employment Security Department released its monthly employment report for Feburary 2013 today, confirming that a recent trend in new jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate is no mirage, and may be gathering steam.  The headline numbers indicate that the State, particularly the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett region, is seeing a strong rebound in new jobs, specifically: [Read more…]