With big cities drawing away convention and meeting traffic, tourism is expected to dip here next year, although sports-related travel shows promise, officials say.Since 2009, Visit Spokane has projected 2013 to be a slow meeting year, says the

While financial institutions have experienced better results this year, bankers here remain somewhat cautious, expecting slow, steady growth to occur again in 2013.Overall, banking industry leaders cite definite bright spots this year, such as a

Manufacturing, health care, and tourism will help sustain economic growth in Kootenai County, and the residential real estate market will continue its modest rebound, observers of the economy there say.The October unemployment rate was 8.7 in in

Mining companies expect another year of high metal prices and production in 2013 to meet global demand for gold and silver, as well as for base metals. Industry leaders say challenges ahead include a growing shortage of experienced mine workers and

Some Inland Northwest high-technology companies are expecting large gains in sales, along with some increases in employment, in 2013. Others expect to stay competitive in challenging markets.Meanwhile, angel investment efforts gathered steam a a

Spokane-area economists expect employment growth in 2013, building upon gains during the last half of this year.Grant Forsyth, chief economist at Spokane-based Avista Corp., says he's projecting 1.1 percent job growth in 2013 in Spokane and If 2

Like the ever-so-gradual acceleration of a heavily laden train, the Inland Northwest economy finally is expected to begin showing some noteworthy forward momentum next year, albeit at a still subpar pace.Although plenty of uncertainty remains, a