The Institute in the News
Media features regarding the Institute will be posted here routinely.
Current Articles
Spokane’s economic health ranks high in prosperity
Spokane Journal of Business
By Dr. Patrick Jones
April 2025
Manufacturing in greater Tri-Cities is more than meets the eye
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
By Dr. Patrick Jones
June 2024
The demographics of Benton and Franklin counties are changing. What’s our future?
Tri-City Herald
By Dr. Patrick Jones
March 2024
Visitor spending comeback continues with favorable forecast for 2024
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
By Dr. Patrick Jones
March 2024
The demographics of Benton and Franklin counties are changing. What’s our future?
Tri-City Herald
By Dr. Patrick Jones
March 2024
To understand health care, look to its workforce, especially nurses
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
By Dr. Patrick Jones
February 2024
Tri-Cities faces challenge of growing its own engineers
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
By Dr. Patrick Jones
January 2024
Wage increases likely to beat inflation this year
Spokane Journal of Business
By Dr. Patrick Jones
October 2023
Citations
Affordability issues to dampen real estate activity
Spokane Journal of Business
By Erica Bullock
December 2024
Some retailers are hopeful for revenue growth
Spokane Journal of Business
By Erica Bullock
December 2024
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
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
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
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
Outgoing Tide: Employee recruitment, retention urged in silver tsunami era
Spokane Journal of Business
By Erica Bullock
August 2023
Archive
2023
The Federal Footprint Here Is Larger than You Might Think – The Wenatchee World, By Dr. Patrick Jones
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
‘So many fragile families.’ End of pandemic housing aid has Tri-Cities bracing for the worst – Tri-City Herald
Streateries a “win-win” for Walla Walla restaurants, businesses, economist says – Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Northern Quest prepares to open River Tower addition | The Spokesman-Review – The Spokesman Review
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
Health care sector continues to grow, but is health of population improving? – Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, By Dr. Patrick Jones
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
