Market indicators are updated monthly. They include the most recently available data. Statistics are also available in print editions of The Bellingham Business Journal.
Annual changes, where applicable, compare the cumulative year-to-date totals with numbers from the same time period during the previous year. Data include raw numbers only and are not adjusted to account for any seasonal factors.
Jobs: Local unemployment dips under 6 percent
Unemployment rate
Includes non-seasonally adjusted figures in Whatcom County
April 2014: 5.8 percent (April 2013: 6.8 percent)
Source: Washington State Employment Security Department
Jobless benefit claims
Includes continued unemployment benefit claims in Whatcom County
April 2014: 2,538 (April 2013: 2,477)
Source: Washington State Employment Security Department
Bankruptcies
Includes Chapters 7, 11, 13 in Whatcom County
April 2014: 49
Year-to-date: 161 (Annual change: 20.69 percent decrease)
Source: U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington
Spending: Little change in monthly tax payout
Sales-tax distribution
Includes basic and optional local sales tax to Bellingham
April 2014: $1.41 million
Year-to-date: $6.47 million (Annual change: 1.09 percent increase)
Source: Washington State Department of Revenue
Motor vehicle registrations
Includes original registrations in Whatcom County
April 2014: 1,130 (April 2013: 1,198)
Source: Washington State Department of Licensing
Canadian dollar
Includes monthly averages (Canadian-to-U.S.) at market closing
April 2014: $0.91 (April 2013: $0.98)
Source: Bank of Canada
Housing: Single-family house, condo prices rise
Average home sale price
Includes single-family homes and condos in Whatcom County
May 2014: $298,871 (May 2013: $290,195)
Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service
Median home sale price
Includes single-family homes and condos in Whatcom County
May 2014: $260,500 (May 2013: $250,000)
Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service
Closed residential sales
Includes single-family homes and condos in Whatcom County
May 2014: 260 (Annual change: 6.81 percent decrease)
Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service
Pending residential sales
Includes single-family homes and condos in Whatcom County
May 2014: 402 (Annual change: 1.01 percent increase)
Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service
Foreclosure rate
Includes foreclosures in Whatcom County
February 2014: 1.11 percent (February 2013: 1.46 percent)
Source: CoreLogic
Mortgage delinquency rate
Includes delinquencies in Whatcom County
February 2014: 2.93 percent (February 2013: 4.02 percent)
Source: CoreLogic
Other factors: Busy month at Bellingham International Airport
Airport traffic
Includes total enplanements at Bellingham International Airport
April 2014: 46,882
Year-to-date: 188,203 (Annual change: 7.76 percent decrease)
Source: Port of Bellingham
Cruise terminal traffic
Includes inbound/outbound passengers at Bellingham Cruise Terminal
April 2014: 1,550
Year-to-date: 5,450 (Annual change: 6.2 percent increase)
Source: Port of Bellingham
Bellingham building permit values
Includes total building-permit valuation in Bellingham
April 2014: $9.11 million
Year-to-date: $51.96 million (Annual change: 19.7 percent increase)
Source: City of Bellingham
