By Jim Cline and Kate Kremer
We often are asked, what the “Seattle” CPI is and whether it only covers the City of Seattle, or King County. In fact, the “Seattle” index covers the entire Seattle metropolitan area. [Read more…]
November 29, 2012 by
What is the “Seattle” CPI?
November 28, 2012 by
Seattle and National CPI Converge in Latest Numbers
By Jim Cline and Kate Kremer
In our last inflation report, the August bimonthly Seattle-W CPI index was a full percentage point above the All Cities-W (2.7% versus 1.7%). However, the latest bimonthly CPI release shows a convergence of the two indices. The October Seattle W has dropped to 2.3% while the All Cities-W has risen to 2.2%: [Read more…]
October 12, 2012 by
Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Report Highlights Slow Growth in National and State Economy
By Jim Cline
T
he newly-released September 2012 report of the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council identifies an economy, of a slow national economy coupled with a slightly stronger State economy. This report is consistent with the other recent Forecast Council reports. As we have discussed, the mixed economic conditions impede a full fiscal recovery for the State and local governments and serves as a significant constraint on the current collective bargaining environment. Until government budgets rebuild reserves and the labor market picks up momentum, we are unlikely to return to widespread robust contract settlements. [Read more…]
