Unemployment Rate Rises Again

The unemployment rate has risen back to 9.2% here in Washington State after seeing a drop in rates in July, to 8.9%, (originally calcuated at 9.1%).

Washington lost about 8000 agricultural jobs last month after gaining 11,800 but the biggest decline was seen in professional and business services with a loss of 2500 jobs.

Retail trade and education and health services were also down 2400 and 1800 jobs, respectively, but government saw growth of 1800 new jobs, leisure and hospitality with 800, transportation, warehousing, and utilities, up 700, and construction with a gain of 200 jobs.

Economists say that the small gain in construction is a first since January 2008.

More than 319,000 people in Washington are still looking for work according to the Employment Security Department.

Last year at this time, Washington's unemployment rate was 5.4%. The state lost 126,100 jobs from August 2008 to August 2009, a 4.2 percent decrease. Nationally, employment declined by 4.3 percent over the past year.

However, Washington state's unemployment rate is lower than the national rate, which was 9.7% for August.


Thank you to KIRO News

King County Home Values Continue To Drop

Seattle area home prices dropped 16.4% in March compared to last year at the same time according to the Standard & Poor’s Case-Shiller Home Price Index.

Just between February 09 and March 09 home prices dropped 2%.

In July 2008, research for the National Housing Federation claimed the downturn would be over by 2010 with home prices rising 25% in the 5 years following. It predicts a rise of 5.2 per cent in 2012 and 9 per cent in each of the following two years.


Thank you to KIRO.