Market indicators are updated monthly. They include the most recently available data. Expanded statistics are available in print editions of The Bellingham Business Journal.
Jobs: Unemployment rate hanging near 6 percent
Unemployment rate
Includes non-seasonally adjusted figures in Whatcom County
November 2013: 6.1 percent
Yearly change: 0.7 percent decrease
Monthly change: No change
Source: Washington State Employment Security Department
Jobless benefit claims
Includes continued unemployment benefit claims in Whatcom County
October 2013: 1,780
Yearly change: 17.09 percent decrease
Monthly change: 1.37 percent increase
Source: Washington State Employment Security Department
Bankruptcies
Includes Chapters 7, 11, 13 in Whatcom County
November 2013: 36
Yearly change: 2.86 percent increase
Monthly change: 29.41 percent decrease
Source: U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington
Spending: Canadian-dollar rate falling
Sales-tax distribution
Includes basic and optional local sales tax to Bellingham
October 2013: $1.77 million
Yearly change: 4.12 percent increase
Monthly change: 1.72 percent decrease
Source: Washington State Department of Revenue
Motor vehicle registrations
Includes original registrations in Whatcom County
November 2013: 899
Yearly change: 3.33 percent increase
Monthly change: 18.94 percent decrease
Source: Washington State Department of Licensing
Canadian dollar
Includes monthly averages (Canadian-to-U.S.) at market closing
October 2013: $0.95
Yearly change: 5 percent decrease
Monthly change: 1.04 percent decrease
Source: Bank of Canada
Housing: Sale prices return to climbing
Average home sale price
Includes single-family homes and condos in Whatcom County
November 2013: $294,779
Yearly change: 4.56 percent increase
Monthly change: 4.45 percent increase
Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service
Median home sale price
Includes single-family homes and condos in Whatcom County
November 2013: $260,000
Yearly change: 8.81 percent increase
Monthly change: 4.42 percent increase
Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service
Closed residential sales
Includes single-family homes and condos in Whatcom County
November 2013: 199
Yearly change: 3.65 percent increase
Monthly change: 28.93 percent decrease
Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service
Pending residential sales
Includes single-family homes and condos in Whatcom County
November 2013: 236
Yearly change: 6.79 percent increase
Monthly change: 14.49 percent decrease
Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service
Foreclosure rate
Includes foreclosures in Whatcom County
October 2013: 1.1 percent
Yearly change: 0.42 percent decrease
Monthly change: 0.02 percent decrease
Source: CoreLogic
Mortgage delinquency rate
Includes delinquencies in Whatcom County
October 2013: 3.2 percent
Yearly change: 0.97 percent decrease
Monthly change: 0.07 percent decrease
Source: CoreLogic
Other factors: Travel still below last year
Airport traffic
Includes total enplanements at Bellingham International Airport
November 2013: 42,562
Yearly change: 7.09 percent decrease
Monthly change: 0.07 percent increase
Source: Port of Bellingham
Cruise terminal traffic
Includes inbound/outbound passengers at Bellingham Cruise Terminal
November 2013: 1,641
Yearly change: 14.17 percent decrease
Monthly change: 6.14 percent increase
Source: Port of Bellingham
Bellingham building permit values
Includes total building-permit valuation in Bellingham
November 2013: $3.7 million
Yearly change: 21.28 percent decrease
Monthly change: 73.38 percent decrease
Source: City of Bellingham
Whatcom County building permit values
Includes total building-permit valuation in unincorporated areas of Whatcom County
November 2013: $6.1 million
Yearly change: 69.44 percent increase
Monthly change: 22.78 percent decrease
Source: Whatcom County Planning & Development Services
Evan Marczynski, associate editor for The Bellingham Business Journal, can be reached at 360-647-8805, or evan@bbjtoday.com.
