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Whether it’s agriculture, tourism or energy, a look at the industries that shape Idaho’s economy and how they are affected by state policies.

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April 12, 2012

States Like Idaho Drive Decrease In National Foreclosures

The number of foreclosures in Idaho has remained relatively stable since October of last year, according to data from RealtyTrac, out today.  Foreclosure filings made a slight .62 percent dip in the first quarter of 2012. Compared to the first quarter of last year, filings have come down dramatically, falling by about 60 percent.  Nationally, […]

Little By Little, Idaho’s Hard-Hit Housing Market Begins To Revive

Idaho was hit hard in the housing crash.  For the better part of three years, the state’s foreclosure rate was one of the highest in the nation.  The Boise area saw the worst of it.  That means it’s been a while since this scene played out with any kind of regularity. Little By Little, Idaho’s […]

April 11, 2012

Dairy Farmers & Lumberjacks Make Worst Jobs List

The online job search site CareerCast has released its list of best and worst jobs for 2012. Topping the worst list are two professions with a history in Idaho: dairy farmers and lumberjacks. CareerCast ranked 200 jobs based on these factors: work environment, income, outlook, stress and physical demands. Report publisher Tony Lee tells CNBC […]

Q&A With Statesman’s Rocky Barker: Governor’s China Trip Worth The Tax Dollars

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter and Idaho commerce and business officials are preparing for their week-long trip to China.  The trade mission takes off this Saturday. This year’s trip to China comes two years after Gov. Otter lead a similar mission there, with the aim of creating direct investment opportunities for wealthy Chinese in Idaho.  The […]

April 9, 2012

Gov. Otter Travels To China To Sell Idaho Products

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter is heading to China this weekend to lead an eight-day trade mission. The governor will travel to Shanghai, Chengdu and Beijing.  His itinerary so far is vague, including only brief descriptions of daily activities.  For example: “Daily itinerary filled with company and government meetings in Chengdu  – schedule to be confirmed”

April 5, 2012

High Gas Prices Affect Station Owners, Too

Idaho is faring somewhat better than many other states in terms of gas prices, as Boise State Public Radio recently reported.  According to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report, a gallon of regular will now run you about $3.78 in Idaho, well below the current national average of $3.94. For Idaho’s gas station owners, that’s cold […]

April 2, 2012

Construction Numbers Complicate Recovery Picture

Total U.S. construction spending fell in February, according to Census Bureau figures released today.  The drop was the largest in seven months. The Calculated Risk blog has posted a couple of handy graphs showing construction spending over time and by category. Idaho has seen a substantial decline in construction employment since the start of the […]

March 30, 2012

Idaho Dairymen Eligible For USDA Subsidy

For the first time in almost two years, Idaho dairymen are eligible for a  federal subsidy that compensates them when milk prices fall substantially below the costs of production. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced this week it has reinstated payments to dairymen under the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program.  It’s the first time […]

March 29, 2012

North Idaho Miners Find Work After Lay-Offs

Work hasn’t been hard to find for laid-off miners in the Coeur d’Alene area.  The Northwest News Network reports about 250 miners and contractors were laid-off at the end of 2011 when the Lucky Friday Mine was shut down over safety concerns. Since November 2011 Kootenai County’s jobless rate has declined more than two percentage […]

March 27, 2012

Western Housing Markets Show Signs Of Life

Anyone anxious for a housing market turnaround got a bit of dreary news today, in the form of the most recent Case-Shiller Index report.  It found that home values fell 3.8 percent nationally between January 2011 and January of this year, a greater decrease than expected. In the West, though, there has been a trickle […]

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