Market indicators are updated monthly, and include the most recently available information. Expanded statistics are available in each print edition of The Bellingham Business Journal.
Jobs: Local unemployment at lowest level since October 2012
Unemployment rate
Includes non-seasonally adjusted figures in Whatcom County
August 2013: 6.5 percent (initial estimate)
August 2012: 7.7 percent
Year-over-year change: 1.2 percent decrease
Source: Washington State Employment Security Department
Jobless benefit claims
Includes continued unemployment benefit claims in Whatcom County
July 2013: 2,036
July: 2012: 2,477
Year-over-year change: 17.8 percent decrease
Source: Washington State Employment Security Department
Total nonfarm employment
Includes non-seasonally adjusted figures in Whatcom County
August 2013: 82,100 (initial estimate)
August 2012: 79,700
Year-over-year change: 3.01 percent increase
Source: Washington State Employment Security Department
Bankruptices
Includes Chapters 7, 11, 13 in Whatcom County
August 2013: 44
August 2012: 49
Year-over-year change: 10.2 percent decrease
Source: U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington
Spending: Vehicle registrations outpacing previous year’s figures
Sales-tax distribution
Includes basic and optional local sales tax to Bellingham
August 2013: $1,797,168.60
August 2012: $1,651,057.80
Year-over-year change: 8.85 percent increase
Source: Washington State Department of Revenue
Motor vehicle registrations
Includes original registrations in Whatcom County
August 2013: 1,225
August 2012: 1,113
Year-over-year change: 10.06 percent increase
Source: Washington State Department of Licensing
Canadian dollar
Includes monthly averages (Canadian-to-U.S.) at market closing
August 2013: $0.96
August 2012: $1.00
Year-to-year change: 4 percent decrease
Source: Bank of Canada
Border traffic
Includes southbound passenger-vehicle crossings into Whatcom County
April 2013: 545,964
April 2012: 549,520
Year-to-year change: 0.65 percent decrease
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation
Housing: Sales continue hitting high notes as fall begins
Average home sale price
Includes single-family homes and condos in Whatcom County
August 2013: $277,350
August 2012: $270,179
Year-to-year change: 2.65 percent increase
Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service
Median home sale price
Includes single-family homes and condos in Whatcom County
August 2013: $253,400
August 2012: $237,250
Year-to-year change: 6.81 percent increase
Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service
Closed residential sales
Includes single-family homes and condos in Whatcom County
August 2013: 274
August 2012: 262
Year-to-year change: 4.58 percent increase
Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service
Pending residential sales
Includes single-family homes and condos in Whatcom County
August 2013: 348
August 2012: 326
Year-to-year change: 6.75 percent increase
Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service
Foreclosure rate
Includes foreclosures in Whatcom County
July 2013: 1.28 percent
July 2012: 1.5 percent
Year-to-year change: 0.22 percent decrease
Source: CoreLogic
Mortgage delinquency rate
Includes delinquencies in Whatcom County
July 2013: 3.51 percent
July 2012: 4.37 percent
Year-to-year change: 0.86 percent decrease
Source: CoreLogic
Other factors: Cruise terminal made most of busy season
Airport traffic
Includes total enplanements at Bellingham International Airport
August 2013: 52,909
August 2012: 53,724
Year-to-year change: 1.52 percent decrease
Source: Port of Bellingham
Cruise terminal traffic
Includes inbound/outbound passengers at Bellingham Cruise Terminal
August 2013: 4,450
August 2012: 4,112
Year-to-year change: 8.22 percent increase
Source: Port of Bellingham
Bellingham building permit values
Includes total building-permit valuation in Bellingham
August 2013: $11,940,069
August 2012: $4,320,043
Year-to-year change: 176.39 percent increase
Source: City of Bellingham
Whatcom County building permit values
Includes total building-permit valuation in unincorporated areas of Whatcom County
August 2013: $17,243,695
August 2012: $11,101,799
Year-to-year change: 55.32 percent increase
Source: Whatcom County Planning & Development Services
Evan Marczynski, staff reporter for The Bellingham Business Journal, can be reached at 360-647-8805, Ext. 5052, or evan@bbjtoday.com.
