The number of foreclosure actions in Spokane County rose 1 percent in 2002 to 1,153, but economic observers say the small increase is a sign of stabilization after eight years of substantial increases.Full-year figures werent available for in

Schmidt Development LLC, of Spokane, has proposed building a $1.1 million office building on the periphery of downtown Spokane.As envisioned, the two-story, 10,000-square-foot building would be constructed on a vacant site at 1807 W. Fifth, is

Harpers Manufacturing, the big office-furniture maker in Post Falls, has changed its name to flexcel-Post Falls and could take on work previously done at other plants owned by its parent company, Kimball International Inc.Kimball, a based in to

Spokane-based Potlatch Corp. has split its consumer products and paperboard division into two operations in a move that the forest-products company says reflects the vitality of its consumer-products business.Potlatchs consumer-products makes

Metropolitan Mortgage & Securities Inc., the big Spokane-based financial-services company, has reported net income of $3.9 million for its 2002 fiscal year ended Sept. 30, which marks a significant rebound after enduring two years of losses about a

In a manner of speaking, Spokanes Deborah Wittwer sidestepped her way into business. For many years, Wittwer coached a competitive jump-rope team here called Side Steps, which grew through the late 1980s and 1990s, competing in a national on

For Empire Health Services CEO Tom White, the best thing about 2003 is that its not 2002.Last year, the nonprofit parent of Deaconess Medical Center and Valley Hospital & Medical Center suffered a net loss of about $18 million, eliminated its

Spokane-area highway construction companies face a rough road ahead due to an expected precipitous drop in Washington state Department of Transportation-funded roadwork.Also, some planned projects within the new city of Spokane Valley could be

Homeowners insurance used to be a no-brainer: You bought a house, you called an agent, you got insurance. Now, after suffering what one insurer in the state calls an unprecedented convergence of negative trends, the homeowners insurance is

In some respects, 2002 has been an extension of 2001, rife with bad economic news and uncertainty about the future. Still, the layoffs slowed, and there were substantive signs that Spokanes economy could improve in the coming year. New set up