Latest News

Cowles subsidiary agrees to acquire Tri-Cities Journal, Senior Times

Transaction to be completed by year-end

December 27, 2022

Mid-Columbia Media Inc., a subsidiary of Cowles Co., has agreed to acquire the assets of Tri Comp Inc., which publishes the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business and the Senior Times newspapers.

Guest Commentary: Economic uncertainty hasn't stopped retail spending this year

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December 15, 2022

Don Brunell

The good news is, despite higher prices, inflation, and safety concerns, more Christmas shoppers are browsing online and making in-store purchases. The National Retail Federation reported this year an estimated 166.3 million people visited stores from

The Journal's View: Lean into opportunity, even when times get tough

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December 15, 2022

Staff Report

If you read the Journal's Economic Outlook, it doesn't sound like 2023 is going to include much in the way of glad tidings of comfort and joy. Forecasts in the late 2000s and early 2010s certainly were worse, but pre-pandemic prognostications were a

Tourism forecast is mixed for 2023

With convention bookings subdued, sports events expected to draw crowds

December 15, 2022

Virginia Thomas

Spokane's tourism and hospitality industry has thrived in an explosion of post-pandemic demand, but the market is expected to be quieter in 2023. Meg Winchester, president and CEO of Visit Spokane, says tourism here has been strong in every category

Idaho mining execs optimistic about the future

Hecla anticipates higher output; Idaho Strategic expands rare earth sites

December 15, 2022

Mike McLean

Inland Northwest mining industry representatives are optimistic about mining in the coming year and beyond. Coeur d'Alene-based Hecla Mining Co., which is the largest silver producer in the U.S., recently agreed to acquire all outstanding stock in

Retail sales likely to decelerate after strong showing

Inflation, low average savings impact spending

December 15, 2022

Karina Elias

Retail sales in Spokane are expected to slow in 2023 after strong showings the last couple of years which were buoyed by pandemic relief funds, says Patrick Jones, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Analysis at Eastern

Demand, prices for wood products expected to slow further

Market reacting to Fed raising interest rates

December 15, 2022

Virginia Thomas

The wood products industry is likely to see a cooling of market volatility in 2023 as demand slows due to inflation and interest rate increases, experts say. Tim Borg, general manager at the Spokane offices of Texas-based supplier and manufacturer of

Inland Northwest health care systems look to stabilize

Spokane providers are operating with financial losses, increased costs

December 15, 2022

Karina Elias

Moving into 2023, major health care systems in Spokane are projecting continued financial losses while working to stabilize margins after struggling through two years of COVID-19 surges, ongoing shortages of medical personnel, and rising costs.

Financial institutions brace for potential recession

Inflation, interest rates predicted to slow loan, credit card demands

December 15, 2022

Virginia Thomas

Financial industry representatives here say that deposit volumes are expected to decrease as consumers and businesses struggle with inflation, and many signs point to a recession developing in 2023.

Positive early outlook projected for Washington's ag industry

Inflation, war in Ukraine may impact farmers here

December 15, 2022

Karina Elias

The La NiÃ±a weather pattern is delivering adequate precipitation going into 2023 for some of Washington state's leading crops, some industry experts say. According to a report from Northwest Farm Credit Services, the 12-month forecast for some of