Trending News

Business Applications in Washington State

Business Applications in Washington State

Leading the Country in Applications
The US has shown a marked increase in the number of business applications filed following the pandemic, but that trend has seemed to falter between 2024 and 2025. Numbers were stable after a spike in 2021, but they appear to have fallen into a spiral now. More can be read from the US Census Bureau tool here. The tool shows state and nationwide numbers of applications, as well as several filter types: applications from corporations, applications with planned wages, and high-propensity business applications...
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Life Expectancy Around the World

Life Expectancy Around the World

How Long are People Living?
In the past hundred years, life expectancy has undergone an incredible transformation. The average global life expectancy as recently as 1900 was barely over 30 years, and over the past century into the present it's gone up to 73 years (2023). While progress has been uneven, it has been universal; Every section of the world has seen vast growth. This information comes from the UK group Our World in Data, and their...
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Upward Mobility in Benton and Franklin Counties

Upward Mobility in Benton and Franklin Counties

The Urban Institute's Upward Mobility Initiative is a national effort that gives local communities tools to boost long term economic well-being, racial equality, and opportunity through a foundation of clear, accurate data. Their work is done across the...
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Trends In Action

Economic Vitality

Job Creation in the Greater Tri Cities Slowed Significantly in 2024

 Has the job creating machine of the greater Tri Cities thrown a wrench? While one year a trend does not make, last year’s results were anything but stellar, as this indicator reveals. The year ended with only a bit more than 1,600 jobs created over 2023. This was the lowest yearly gain registered since 2013, outside of pandemic year 2020. For further context...
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Housing

The Decline in Housing Affordability in the Two Counties Has Leveled Off

A great American pastime has become tracking house prices. Think how often we check Zillow or Realtor.com for the latest valuation on our own home, and let’s admit, sometimes of our neighbors’. Of course, the price of a house matters beyond neighborly curiosity. A house is typically the largest purchase a family will...
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Economic Vitality

Income Distribution Better Than State While Continuing to Hold Steady

While many urban communities are seeing challenges associated with growing income inequality, income distribution in the greater Tri Cities has remained steady over the past decade. Benton-Franklin Trends 3.1.4 presents data from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) for the Kennewick-Pasco MSA...
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Welcome Our New Student Interns!

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Mason Moore

Hometown: Wenatchee, Washington

Major: Information Systems & Business Analytics, Finance

Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2025

Post-graduations plans: Attend graduate school and get a good job!

After a few months of working on the Trends project, my favorite thing so far: 
I really enjoy the process of troubleshooting and working through the puzzles that come with data analysis, no two indicators are ever the same, and that keeps things interesting and engaging. I’ve also really appreciated the opportunity to work with such a thoughtful and collaborative team. The people I get to work with make the experience even more rewarding.

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Matthew Sandell

Hometown: Bremerton, WA

Major: Double-majoring in Economics and Data Analytics

Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2026

Post-graduation plans: Get a job involved with economic development and/or public policy, either local or international. 

After a few months of working on the Trends project, my favorite thing so far:
There are so many different puzzles to solve. My favorite part of the Trends project is rebuilding or creating new datasets. Often, we have to make judgement calls on what data is important and how to present that data. Fundamentally, we're here to tell a story, and I love finding the most efficient way to achieve that through thoughtful and creative data organization.