Washington Economy Watch provides local business and government leaders with a consistent analysis of Greater Washington’s regional economy to ensure they are equipped with the information needed to make informed decisions regarding the future development of the region’s economy.
Following the onset of a recession in July of 1990, a region-specific early warning analytical framework was developed to ensure public and private sectors leaders could better anticipate changes in the direction of the local economy. The Washington Economic Index has been calculated each month since February 1991 and reflects an underlying data base that dates back to 1978.
The Washington Coincident Index represents the current state of the metropolitan area economy based on a combination of regional indicators, including wage and salary employment, consumer confidence, and domestic passenger volume. This index has been simplified while being reconstructed.
Each month, the Stephen S. Fuller Institute will report on the status of these key indicators to ensure regional leaders have the most up-to-date information in regards to the current and near-term performance of the Washington region’s economy.
Understanding Business Cycles and The Washington Economic Index ›
Current Report
Washington Economy Watch
Special Edition, January 7th, 2026
Regional Federal Employment Plummets
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released estimates for federal employment in the Washington region today. Preliminary estimates show that there were 327,100 federal employees in the Washington region in November, down 52,900 from the December 2024. Unfortunately, this is in line with our expectations that federal employment in the Washington region was set to decline more sharply than the nation (Here). The last time that the Washington region had as few as 327,100 federal employees was in late 2001.
More Reports
Washington Index (monthly, 1990 to present)
Download Excel File >>
Washington Economy Watch – Special Edition, Jan. 2026
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 9 – November 2025
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 8 – October 2025
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 7 – September 2025
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 6 – August 2025
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 5 – July 2025
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 4 – May 2025
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 3 – April 2025
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 2 – March 2025
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 1 – January 2025
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VIII, No. 11 – November 2024
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VIII, No. 10 – October 2024
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VIII, No. 9 – September 2024
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VIII, No. 8 – August 2024
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VIII, No. 7 – July 2024
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VIII, No. 6 – June 2024
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VIII, No. 5 – May 2024
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VIII, No. 4 – April 2024
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VIII, No. 3 – March 2024
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VIII, No. 2 – February 2024
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VIII, No. 1 – January 2024
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VII, No. 11 – November 2023
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VII, No. 10 – October 2023
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VII, No. 9 – September 2023
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VII, No. 8 – August 2023
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VII, No. 7 – July 2023
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VII, No. 6 – June 2023
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VII, No. 5 – May 2023
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VII, No. 4 – April 2023
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VII, No. 3 – March 2023
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VII, No. 2 – February 2023
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VII, No. 1 – January 2023
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VI, No. 2 – December 2022
Washington Economy Watch Vol. VI, No. 1 – November 2022
Washington Economy Watch Vol. V, No. 7 – October 2021
Washington Economy Watch Vol. V, No. 6 – September 2021
Washington Economy Watch Vol. V, No. 5 – August 2021
Washington Economy Watch Vol. V, No. 4 – 2Q 2021
Washington Economy Watch Vol. V, No. 3 – March 2021
Washington Economy Watch Vol. V, No. 2 – February 2021
Washington Economy Watch Vol. V, No. 1 – January 2021
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 10 – Nov/Dec 2020
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 9 – Sep/Oct 2020
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 8 – August 2020
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 7 – July 2020
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 6 – June 2020
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 5 – May 2020
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 4 – April 2020
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 3 – March 2020
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 2 – February 2020
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 1 – January 2020
Washington Economy Watch Vol. III, No. 11 – November 2019
Washington Economy Watch Vol. IV, No. 1 – January 2020
Washington Economy Watch Vol. III, No. 11 – November 2019
Washington Economy Watch Vol. III, No. 10 – October 2019
Washington Economy Watch Vol. III, No. 8 – August 2019
Washington Economy Watch Vol. III, No. 9 – September 2019
Washington Economy Watch Vol. III, No. 8 – August 2019
Washington Economy Watch Vol. III, No. 7 – July 2019
Washington Economy Watch Vol. III, No. 6 – June 2019
Washington Economy Watch Vol. III, No. 5 – May 2019
Washington Economy Watch Vol. III, No. 4 – April 2019
Washington Economy Watch Vol. III, No. 3 – March 2019
Washington Economy Watch Vol. III, No. 2 – February 2019
Washington Economy Watch Vol. III, No. 1 – January 2019
Washington Economy Watch Vol. II, No. 11 – November 2018
Washington Economy Watch Vol. II, No. 10 – October 2018
Washington Economy Watch Vol. II, No. 9 – September 2018
Washington Economy Watch Vol. II, No. 8 – August 2018
Washington Economy Watch Vol. II, No. 7 – July 2018
Washington Economy Watch Vol. II, No. 6 – June 2018
Washington Economy Watch Vol. II, No. 5 – May 2018
Washington Economy Watch Vol. II, No. 4 – April 2018
Washington Economy Watch Vol. II, No. 3 – March 2018
Washington Economy Watch Vol. II, No. 2 – February 2018
Washington Economy Watch Vol. II, No. 1 – January 2018
Washington Economy Watch Vol. I, No. 11 – November 2017
Washington Economy Watch Vol. I, No. 10 – October 2017
Washington Economy Watch Vol. I, No. 9 – September 2017
Washington Economy Watch Vol. I, No. 8 – August 2017
Washington Economy Watch Vol. I, No. 7 – July 2017
Washington Economy Watch Vol. I, No. 6 – June 2017
Washington Economy Watch Vol. I, No. 5 – May 2017
Washington Economy Watch Vol. I, No. 4 – April 2017
Washington Economy Watch Vol. I, No. 3 – March 2017
Washington Economy Watch Vol. I, No. 2 – February 2017
Washington Economy Watch Vol. I, No. 1 – January 2017