Finance

Washington Jobs Picture Brightens, But Unemployment Up Too

Tom Banse — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 23:09:08 +0000

The latest jobs report for Washington state contains a paradox. It shows strong job growth in the private sector. But at the same time, the state unemployment rate also rose.

Washington's Employment Department Wednesday reported a May jobless rate of 8.3 percent, up slightly from the revised 8.2 percent rate of April.

State labor economist Anneliese Vance-Sherman said in a conference call that the higher unemployment rate was caused primarily by once-discouraged workers resuming their job hunts.

Oregon Gets Good Financial News With Its GDP

Kristian Foden-Vencil — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:54:18 +0000

Oregon's gross domestic product grew by 4.7 percent last year, that's the second biggest increase seen in all states.

Gross domestic product is defined as the value added by production, so the wages of employees; the profits of businesses; and the taxes paid to governments.

In Oregon, the GDP of the construction sector, the education sector and health all grew by about 4 percent.
But Josh Lehner of the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis says it's the 15 percent increase in the high tech manufacturing sector that pushed the state to the top of the growth chart.

Wash. Shoppers React To Liquor In Grocery Stores

Ashley Gross - KPLU — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 01:04:03 +0000

The state of Washington has officially bid good riddance to its state run liquor stores. About five times as many stores will now sell hard liquor, and the new law that went into effect Friday means shoppers can head to supermarkets to buy vodka or rum. It’s a welcome change for some people, but not for everyone.

Shoppers gave their reactions outside of a Costco warehouse in Seattle.

Alyssa Royse was loading up bottles.

"I came here just to by liquor. We've got tequila, vodka, gin and of course vermouth."

Harry & David Will Bring Seasonal Call Center Back to Eugene

Rachael McDonald — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:00:11 +0000

Harry & David will be bringing its seasonal call center back to Eugene this year. They'll employ 700 to 800 people from November through mid-December.

Harry & David shut down their Eugene call center in 2010 and 2011, when it was going through financial hardship.

Darren Prescott is Vice President for Customer Care. He says the company tried outsourcing.

New Non-Stop Flight From PDX to D.C.’s Reagan National

Kristian Foden-Vencil — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:46:35 +0000

The Federal Aviation Administration restricts flights to and from the D.C. area. But it has now authorization for eight non-stop flights from Western cities to Reagan National. Senator Ron Wyden says it'll be good for business.

Oregon Investment Act signed

Kristian Foden-Vencil — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:07:37 +0000

Monica Enand runs the Oregon start-up 'Zapproved,' which makes legal software. She thinks the 'Oregon Investment Act' will be a shot in the arm for new small businesses.

Monica Enand: "In the very beginning, especially in Oregon, it's tough to get any kind of investment dollars to get things rolling and get off the ground."

Horizon Air To Base Flight Crews In Boise, Medford and Spokane

Scott Ki — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:53:30 +0000

Horizon Air will be establishing new inland northwest bases of operation starting in August. The airline plans to expand to three Northwest cities.

Horizon Air now bases its flight crews in Seattle and Portland. By the end of the summer, its nearly 900 pilots and flight attendants will also call Boise, Idaho, Medford, Oregon and Spokane, Washington home. Paul McElroy is a spokesman for the airline.

Home Prices Continue To Drop In Seattle, Portland

Chris Lehman — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:06:57 +0000

Home prices continue to fall in the Northwest. New figures released show yet another drop in both Seattle and Portland.

The S&P/Case-Schiller Index measures housing prices in 20 large metropolitan areas around the country. The newest figures are through January and in them, both Seattle and Portland hit new lows for the current economic downturn. Average home prices in both cities are down about four percent from a year ago. Steve Thoele is an agent with Keller-Williams Realty in Portland. He blogs about housing trends in Oregon.