Category: Blog

The Washington Leading Index increased in February 2018, gaining 2.5 percent from February 2017 and building on January’s increase of 1.8 percent. The Leading Index had been positive in eleven of last year’s twelve months, the only exception being December’s decline that was likely linked to severe weather and the continuing budget impasse that threaten a federal government shutdown. This overall strong performance in 2017 has now continued through the first two months of 2018 and points to the region’s continued economic expansion through at least the third quarter of 2018.   

This piece ran in the Washington Business Journal in the April 20, 2018 edition. The graphic was prepared by the Washington Business Journal using data supplied by the Institute. In 2016, 42.9 percent of all households in the Washington region had two or more workers. Of the 15 largest metro areas, the region had the second largest…

In 1Q 2018, the Washington region’s housing market performance indicators were mixed. Closed sales decreased from last year, but the homes that sold were on the market for a significantly shorter period of time. The decrease in sales was likely the result of decreased supply and increased uncertainty that resulted from the federal budget standoff. Furthermore, the tight inventory and the low days-on-market did not translate to above average price gains. This combination of housing market performance is unusual for the region. Altogether, it suggests that the market is likely being disproportionately driven by a core group of motivated and discerning buyers, while weak inventory and economic uncertainty subdued the overall pool of buyers.

This piece ran in the Washington Business Journal in the March 23, 2018 edition. The graphic was prepared by the Washington Business Journal using data supplied by the Institute. Between February 2017 and February 2018, the number of existing home sales in the Washington region decreased 0.3 percent (14 sales). This is the third consecutive year-over-year decrease,…

Population growth in the Washington region stabilized in 2017 and was modestly stronger than in 2016. Our region continues to lose residents to other parts of the nation, although the loss in 2017 was less severe than the losses in prior years. The moderating net domestic out-migration is likely the result of a slowdown in job growth in key metro areas that has likely diminished their relative attractiveness to potential out-migrants. Net international migration became the largest source of growth in 2016, surpassing the natural increase (births minus deaths).[1] Compared to the other 15 largest metro areas, the region continues to rank near the middle of the pack with the seventh fastest population growth and the ninth largest net domestic migration rate in 2017.