Growth of Washington Population Slows

The annual population growth rate in Washington state has fallen .09%, according to the Office of Financial Management (OFM). And population gains due to migration have dropped from 81,000 in 2006 to 39,00 in 2009, according to Theresa Lowe, Washington's chief demographer.

“The continued housing contraction nationwide and poor economic conditions appear to be limiting the mobility of the population usually influenced by labor market opportunities,” Lowe said. “Many job seekers are finding it difficult to sell their homes or to relocate to accept employment at the price of paying two mortgages for an extended period.”

Immigration rates have also lowered with many permanent residents and situational immigrants returning home.

The population of Washington’s cities and towns totaled 4,115,700 on April 1, 2009, a growth of more than half a million people since the 2000 census count, reported OFM.


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The Economy is Down, And Theft is Up

According to a recent study by Javelin Strategy & Research, the number of identity theft cases increased 22 percent in 2008 to 9.9 million.

Some key findings from the study:

• 2008 was the first year that the number of cases increased since Javelin began tracking ID theft in 2003.
  
  
• Crimes of opportunity, such as stolen wallets, represented 43 percent of cases, compared to 33 percent in 2007, indicating an increase in the desperation of criminals.
  
  
• Women were 26 percent more likely to be victims of identity theft, reporting a higher incidence of lost or stolen information during purchases in stores.
  
  
• The survey showed that only 11 percent of cases involved online access.

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