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The Institute in the News
Media features regarding the Institute will be posted here routinely.
Current Articles
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Manufacturing in greater Tri-Cities is more than meets the eye
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
By Dr. Patrick Jones
June 2024
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The demographics of Benton and Franklin counties are changing. What’s our future?
Tri-City Herald
By Dr. Patrick Jones
March 2024
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Visitor spending comeback continues with favorable forecast for 2024
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
By Dr. Patrick Jones
March 2024
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The demographics of Benton and Franklin counties are changing. What’s our future?
Tri-City Herald
By Dr. Patrick Jones
March 2024
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To understand health care, look to its workforce, especially nurses
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
By Dr. Patrick Jones
February 2024
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Tri-Cities faces challenge of growing its own engineers
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
By Dr. Patrick Jones
January 2024
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Wage increases likely to beat inflation this year
Spokane Journal of Business
By Dr. Patrick Jones
October 2023
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The Federal Footprint Here Is Larger than You Might Think
The Wenatchee World
By Dr. Patrick Jones
September 2023
Citations
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Inflation rate is slowing. So why isn’t it making a difference for so many Spokane residents?
The Spokesman Review
By Thomas Clouse
October 2024
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Is Spokane’s housing market finally leveling? The average home in the county saw a slight decrease in value this year
The Spokesman Review
By Nick Gibson
June 2024
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Local economists say national spending trend staved off a recession, but Spokane-area impacts remain to be seen
The Spokesman Review
By Tod Stephens
October 2023
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Washington’s minimum wage to increase to $16.28 next year. Is it enough to offset a statewide cost of living crisis?
The Spokesman Review
By Ellen Dennis
October 2023
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Outgoing Tide: Employee recruitment, retention urged in silver tsunami era
Spokane Journal of Business
By Erica Bullock
August 2023
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Northern Quest prepares to open River Tower addition | The Spokesman-Review
The Spokesman Review
By Thomas Clouse
April 2023
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‘So many fragile families.’ End of pandemic housing aid has Tri-Cities bracing for the worst
Tri-City Herald
By Cory McCoy
April 2023
Archive
2023
D. Patrick Jones: Spokane isn’t quite booming anymore, but still needs to prepare for growth – The Spokesman Review, By Dr. Patrick Jones
A federal government default would hit hard at home – The Spokesman Review, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Lifting Spokane’s labor participation requires in-depth analysis – Spokane Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Streateries a “win-win” for Walla Walla restaurants, businesses, economist says – Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Health care sector continues to grow, but is health of population improving? – Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
For Columbia Basin, farming is still a pillar of the economy – The Seattle Times
Spokane’s diversifying economy more resilient to recession – The Spokesman Review
Spokane’s labor force participation lags the US rate – Spokane Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
2022
More older workers expected to delay retirement, INW observers say – Spokane Journal of Business
Student test scores demand concern, then action – Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
The Tri-Cities are among the fastest growing parts of Washington, according to 2020 Census data. Here’s how they’re dealing with explosive growth – The Spokesman Review
The pandemic didn’t hit the Tri-Cities’ economy as hard as the rest of the state, study shows – The Seattle Times
Tri-Cities boasts more engineers than state average – Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Tri-City health care has grown fast. Can the workforce keep up? – Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Wages in Chelan, Douglas counties rose in 2020, but income rose more, thanks to federal support – The Wenatchee World
Visitor spending continues its recovery but will still be below 2019 levels – Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Voting patterns in Chelan and Douglas counties reveal a growing split in turnouts – The Wenatchee World, By Dr. Patrick Jones
A bachelor’s degree still matters – The Spokesman Review
Pandemic deals different economic hands to the Tri-City workforce – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Tri-Cities’ greenhouse gas footprint better than most metro areas – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Tri-City manufacturing sector has a distinct flavor – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Spokane County’s population grows faster than expected – Spokane Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Tri-City area STEM sector is both rich and poor – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones Population growth in Chelan and Douglas counties slowed over the past 12 months – The Wenatchee World
Local hospitality has recovered by sales and wages, but not by jobs – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
The pandemic was not kind to student learning – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Area incomes rose dramatically, but for some more than others – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Participation in local labor force has declined but has now stabilized – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
2021
As we say farewell to 2021, let’s mark return to longer-term trends – Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Slower retail growth likely in post-stimulus economy – Spokane Journal of Business
Boomers best younger generations in battle for houses much of the time – Spokane Journal of Business
Wenatchee Valley renters struggle to meet rising prices – The Wenatchee World
Tri-City students step one foot forward, one foot back – Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
STEM jobs have grown, but largely due to health care sector – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Tri-City population continues to outpace the state – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Manufacturing in the greater Tri-Cities is solid but hardly diversified – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Commuting in the Tri-Cities: It’s about the car – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Tri-Cities’ diverse population continues to grow but not its income – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Tri-City retail sales grew last summer, fall – but not at restaurants – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
The Tri-Cities’ graying population will grow over next decade – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
As we say farewell to 2021, let’s mark return to longer-term trends – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Report: Spokane County underbuilt by 32,000 housing units – Spokane Journal of Business
2020
Robust Tri-City population trends expected to continue – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Retail sales face decline but likely less than elsewhere – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Walla Walla’s 2020 Taxable Retail Sales: Not escaping the pandemic but likely better than we thought in May – The Union Bulletin, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Food, agriculture sectors fortify Tri-City economy – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Tri-City preschool attendance lags compared to state, U.S. – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Will tech-heavy labor force lead to technology economy? – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Covid-19 hits tourism hard in the Tri-Cities – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
$760 million in labor income lost in Spokane County, analysis shows – Spokane Journal of Business
Tri-City manufacturing fares well in era of Covid-19 – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
COVID-19 brings daunting challenge to Tri-City economy – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Tri-City construction pulse beat strong, but what now? – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Hospitality sector carving out bigger chunk of greater Tri-City economy – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Access to Tri-City health care could stand to improve – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Professional, technical services disproportionately large here – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Economic models show bump in retail activity next year – Spokane Journal of Business
2019
2020 wish list should include making progress on Tri-Cities’ early learning gap – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Retail sector ranks as fourth largest employer in Tri-Cities – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Finding young professionals in the Tri-Cities – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Tri-Cities boasts numerous science and tech workers but few firms – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Tri-City finance sector rooted in supportive economy – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Arts are vibrant in Tri-Cities, but not the payroll – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Agricultural processing seeing rapid growth – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Pulse of Tri-City travel and tourism industry beats strong – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Tri-Citians are big consumers of green electricity – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Tri-City health care sector ranks as region’s second largest work force – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Tri-City area women not (yet) holding up half of the business sky – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
More education needed to foster a Tri-City knowledge economy – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Analysis: Spokane economy is good, but needs more gazelles – Spokane Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Variety of factors could affect Spokane retail sales in 2020 – Spokane Journal of Business
Analysis: Exports matter to North Central Washington – Wenatchee World, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Opinion: On graduations and the labor market – Wenatchee World, By Dr. Patrick Jones
2018
Tri-City retailers may rejoice this holiday shopping season – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Tri-City entrepreneurship, labor market show mixed signals – Tri-Cities Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
Spokane retail sales predicted to slow in 2019 – Spokane Journal of Business
Apartment rents rise in Spokane area – Spokane Journal of Business
Nursing to be most in-demand profession in Spokane, forecast says – Spokane Journal of Business