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
Vol. IX, No. 1 – January 2025
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Forecasting Into Uncertainty
The Coincident Index increased 0.3% from December 2023 to December 2024, a positive reading after a month-over-year decline of 1.6% in November.
Having stabilized in the wake of the pandemic, the Washington Region’s economy is again entering a period of historic uncertainty. The new federal administration has begun acting on campaign promises to reduce the size of government by offering federal workers buyouts and pausing federal grants and loans. While the spending pause was rescinded, the federal worker buyout appears to be a sincere attempt to shrink the size of the federal government. As the Washington Region’s economy is heavily dependent on direct federal employment as and federal procurement, grants, and loans, these two actions go to the heart of what makes the region’s economy tick.
Moving into this uncertainty, The Stephen S. Fuller Institute will begin forecasting the region’s economy, which will replace the now discontinued Leading Index. The initial forecast examines employment five months out and does not yet consider decisions made by the new administration. Each month, Economy Watch will revise and review prior forecasts. The initial employment forecast calls for continued moderation in employment growth, even before accounting for the likely negative impacts from the new administration.
More Reports
Washington Index (monthly, 1990 to present)
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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