Modest job growth is expected next year in the Inland Northwest, with greater strides expected on the Idaho side of the border and a heavy concentration of health care-related jobs throughout the region.
Manufacturers in Spokane are taking up work in the satellite industry, while companies in other emerging fields also are looking here to build out their supply chains.
Retail sales in Spokane had a sluggish start through the first half of the year ahead of what's expected to be flat or slightly higher sales through the last two quarters of 2024.
Real estate affordability has been a top concern in Spokane and Kootenai counties this year for both the commercial and residential markets, and high costs are expected to persist in the new year.
A burst of construction activity in the beginning of the year has given way to a development slowdown that's projected to stabilize at a slower rate in 2025.