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FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF SAN FRANCISCO

Western
Economic
Developments
West Coast port disruptions highlight flexibility of U.S. businesses
Figure 1: Imports of holiday retail items
(12-month change in shares)
Panel A. Shifts in transportation mode
Percentage point
6
4
2
0
-2
-4
-6
Vessel transportation

Air transportation

Panel B. Shifts in port of arrival
Percentage point
8

Although the closure of West Coast ports in October disrupted vessel traffic and increased shipping times and costs well into November, the disruptions did not stop the movement of goods into and
out of the U.S. Businesses worked around the disruptions, in part,
by diverting cargo to other ports and by shifting to other modes of
transportation. Such work-arounds are illustrated in Figure 1, Panels A and B, which show 12-month changes in the share of holiday
retail imports (in value terms) moving by vessel and air and via
West Coast and other U.S. ports from May through September 2002.
As Panel A shows, there was a notable shift towards air beginning
in June. Panel B shows that retailers also shifted to other U.S. seaports not engaged in the contract dispute. Overall, these data confirm reports from contacts and provide some indication of why the
port disruptions had a limited impact on overall economic activity.
Most importantly they highlight the flexibility of the U.S. economy
and underscore the ability of businesses to find solutions to shortterm disruptions in supply networks.
DECEMBER 2002

6
4

District recovery down but not out ........................................................ 2

0
-2
-4
-6
-8
West Coast ports
May-02

Jun-02

Other ports
Jul-02

Aug-02

Sep-02

Note: Holiday retail items are comprised of 16 categories including toys, games,
sports equipment, clothing, essential oils and perfumes, printed books, calendars,
printed and illustrated cards, clocks and watches, soaps, glassware, etc.
Source: Global Trade Information Services, Inc., Census Bureau.

IN THIS ISSUE

2

Commercial real estate slips further, residential cools ..................... 2
District IT advantage holds ........................................................................ 3
Capital expenditure plans stable for 2003 ........................................... 4
High-tech Watch ........................................................................................... 5
STATE HIGHLIGHTS
Alaska, Oregon, Washington .................................................................. 6
Arizona, California, Hawaii ...................................................................... 8
Idaho, Nevada, Utah ............................................................................... 10

District recovery down but not out
As in the nation, the economic recovery in the West proceeded sluggishly in recent months, with the pace of growth
down from earlier in the year. The recent slowdown or
“soft patch” reflects, in part, the falloff in consumer spending over the past several months. Following a robust summer, many District consumers took to the sidelines in
September, spending cautiously well into November (Figure 2). Slower spending growth corresponded with the end
of several zero-percent financing deals and a deterioration
in consumer sentiment (as measured by the Conference
Board) regarding the economic conditions in the West.
Looking forward, early tallies of holiday sales indicate that
District consumers may be coming back. Initial reports on
store traffic and sales point to solid growth relative to last
year, often above expectations.

Figure 3: Employment in the 12th District
(annualized growth)
Percent

3
2

Non - IT Govt.
svcs.

Dec-01 to Jun-02
Jun-02 to Oct-02
FIRE

1

Wholesale
trade

0
Retail
trade

-1
Const.
-2

IT-related
svcs.

-3
TCPU
-4
-5

Dur.
mfg. - IT

Non-dur.
mfg.

-6
IT mfg.
-7
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

District employment remained flat in recent months (Figure
3), as slower spending growth, weaker exports, and a falloff
in domestic shipments and orders of manufactured goods
constrained growth. Responding to more moderate consumer spending, hiring among District retailers stalled, with
little change in job counts from June to October. The pace
of job cuts in information technology (IT) manufacturing
and services accelerated in recent months, as companies
responded to slower sales and orders growth and lowerthan-expected earnings. Weaker domestic and foreign sales
projections induced additional layoffs among nondurable
manufacturers in the District. Greater weakness in these sectors more than offset the pickup in growth in finance, inFigure 2: Retail sales growth
(month-to-month annualized change)
Percent

30

US
West

20
10

surance, and real estate (FIRE), wholesale trade, non-IT services, and the government. Reports from District businesses
suggest that job markets may be slow to recover. Caution,
cost-cutting, and a focus on productivity enhancements likely
will continue to constrain hiring in the near term.

Commercial real estate slips further, residential cools
The slower pace of recovery further depressed conditions in commercial real estate. The release of office space
by several financial and IT companies pushed office vacancies higher and lease rates lower in a number of District cities (see State Highlights section). Consistent with
continued weakness, nonresidential construction awards
declined in recent months, with double-digit reductions
relative to earlier in the year recorded in many states.
Nevada is the single exception to this trend, where construction of new hotel and gaming properties continued
at a solid pace.
District residential real estate markets also cooled, but housing remains a positive for growth. Third quarter data from
the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO)
show that District home prices rose 6.1% at an annual rate
between the second and third quarters (Figure 4).1 In the
U.S. as a whole, home prices rose 3.4%. Across District

0
-10
-20
-30
-40
Nov-01

Jan-02

Mar-02

May-02

Jul-02

Sep-02

Note: West includes AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, and WY.
Source: Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd.

2

Nov-02

1 Data are from OFHEO repeat sales index. Growth rates are annualized
percent changes from the previous quarter.

Western Economic Developments
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

December 2002

Figure 4: Nominal house price appreciation
(percent change from previous quarter)
Percent
20

Figure 5: Industry employment as a share
of all IT employment

2002:Q1
2002:Q2
2002:Q3

15

Percent
60
50

10

40

5

30

California
Washington
District ex CA & WA
U.S. ex District

20

0

10

-5

0
-10
US

12th*

AK

AZ

CA

HI

ID

NV

OR

UT

WA

Computer & Household A/V Electronic
components &
& comm.
office
accessories
equipment
equipment

Instruments Communication Computer &
services
data processing
services

* Weighted average using quarter-end nonagricultural employment statistics.
Source: Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.

states, Alaska, Arizona, Utah, and Washington posted slower
home price appreciation than the nation.

District IT advantage holds
The District’s large concentration of IT firms made it quite
vulnerable to the nationwide downturn in the technology
sector. However, with the exception of the computer services sector, the District IT sector has lost jobs at a slower
pace than the IT sector in the rest of the U.S., maintaining
its relative advantage in IT-related production.
IT sector composition
Measured by employment or payroll, IT accounts for a larger
share of economic activity in the District than in the rest of
the nation. The IT share of nonagricultural employment is
about 50% higher in the District than in the rest of the nation (6.1% versus 4.1%), and the IT share of nonagricultural payrolls is about twice as high in the District (14.6%
versus 7.5%). Within the District, California and Washington have the greatest economic dependence on the IT sector
(measured in terms of the IT share of total payrolls), although Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, and Utah each has a higher
IT share of employment and payrolls than does the rest of
the nation (see High-tech Watch charts).
The distribution of activities within the IT sector varies between the District and the rest of the nation, and across
District states (Figure 5). Following unusually rapid growth
in computer services employment during the late 1990s, in
the year 2000 IT services (computer and communications)
accounted for about half or more of IT employment in most

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Covered Employment and Wages.

parts of the nation. However, with the notable exception of
Washington, computer services accounts for a slightly
smaller share of IT employment in the District than in the
rest of the nation. Within the manufacturing segment of the
IT sector, the District is distinguished by a greater share of
computer and office equipment manufacturing (mainly in
California) and by its large share of electronic components
manufacturing (outside of California and Washington).
Growth performance
Using monthly data, it is possible to measure overall IT
employment in California and the rest of the U.S. based on
a definition that is nearly as comprehensive and precise as
in the yearly employment data discussed above (the analyses that follow exclude communications services from the
definition of the IT sector). A breakdown of overall IT employment growth into its separate manufacturing and services components reveals a very large growth swing in the
IT services sector in California (Figure 6). Growth in this
sector in California surged in the year 2000, then plummeted during the downturn, falling well below the growth
rate in IT services in the rest of the nation until the last few
months. This reflects California’s greater exposure to the
Internet and dot-com bust, especially in the San Francisco
Bay Area. The boom-and-bust cycle in computer services
implies that California’s overall IT sector has declined more
than the IT sector in the rest of the nation. However, this
largely reflects a fall from the giddy heights of the Internet
boom rather than any underlying weakness (relative to the
rest of the nation) in other segments of California’s computer services sector. Washington also saw a boom-andclothing

Western Economic Developments
December 2002

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

3

Figure 6: Broad sector IT employment
(percent change over year earlier)

Figure 7: Electronic and electric equipment employment
(percent change over year earlier)

Percent

50

Percent

CA: IT mfg.
CA: IT svcs.
US ex CA: IT mfg.
US ex CA: IT svcs.

40

20
15

30

10

20

5

ID/OR/UT
U.S.

0

10

-5

0
-10

-10

-15

-20

-20

Oct-97

Oct-98

Oct-99

Oct-00

Oct-01

Oct-02

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, and California
Employment Development Department.

bust cycle in its computer services sector, although it was
less pronounced than in California.
In contrast to the pattern in the services sector, California’s
IT manufacturing sector grew somewhat more rapidly than
IT manufacturing in the rest of the nation during the year
2000, and it has declined less rapidly during the subsequent downturn (Figure 6). This likely reflects the underlying composition of California’s IT manufacturing
establishments, which are more focused on research and
development and executive functions, compared to a preponderance of cyclically sensitive production facilities in
other states.
Reasonably comprehensive and precise IT employment data
are not available for Twelfth District states other than California. However, some information about the relative performance of these states’ IT sectors during the downturn
can be inferred by examining employment growth among
manufacturers of electronic and other electrical equipment.
Although this sector includes products not generally considered to be high tech, it contains the electronic components and accessories sector, which in turn contains the
semiconductor makers and related manufacturers that are
critical to the IT sector in some District states outside of
California. Figure 7 compares growth in this sector in the
U.S. as a whole to the sum for Idaho, Oregon, and Utah. As
in California, the IT manufacturing sector in other District
states expanded more rapidly during the boom and contracted less rapidly during the downturn than did IT manufacturing in the rest of the nation.

4

Oct-97

Oct-98

Oct-99

Oct-00

Oct-01

Oct-02

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.

Capital expenditure plans stable for 2003
A recent survey of District businesses about planned capital expenditures in 2003 indicated little change overall
in capital investment budgets relative to 2002. Sales expectations and cash flow considerations were cited as
the most important determinants of 2003 investment
plans, with optimistic and profitable firms increasing
capital budgets and pessimistic and profit-challenged
firms holding steady or cutting back on expenditures.
Among the firms planning to increase capital budgets, many
noted capacity constraints as a motivating factor. A lack of
compelling projects or “must have” technologies was cited
as a factor restraining capital spending in 2003. Few District contacts mentioned tax incentives as having a significant influence on 2003 capital budgets.
Capital investments in 2003 reportedly will be focused on
improving near-term productivity and will be dominated
by equipment replacement and technology upgrades. A
number of businesses indicated that they will spend an increased share of their investment dollars purchasing discounted capital assets released by other businesses. Finally,
contacts noted that the pace of their IT investment has slowed
in recent years, largely due to the extended life of IT equipment and software.
Contributions by Mary Daly, Rob Valletta, Lily Hsueh, Geoffrey
MacDonald, and Jackie Yuen, Financial and Regional Studies, FRBSF.
Interim updates to the statistical charts are available only online at
http://www.frbsf.org/publications/economics/wed/index.html

Western Economic Developments
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

December 2002

High-tech Watch
IT share of District employment and payroll

Business investment in technology products by U.S. firms
(percentage change in quarterly values)
60

Employment
Payroll

U.S. - 12th
12th

50

Computers & Peripherals

40

AK

Communications Equipment

30

AZ

20

CA

10

HI
ID

0

NV

-10

OR

-20

UT

Information Processing
Equipment & Software

-30

WA

-40
0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Percent share

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Monthly semiconductor sales by U.S. firms
(percent change in 3-month moving averages)

Sep-98

Sep-99

Sep-00

Sep-01

Sep-02

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Shipments of computers and related products by U.S. firms
(percent change in 3-month moving averages)

120

40

100

30

3 months prior*

80

20

60

3 months prior*

Year-over-year

10

Year-over-year

40

0

20

-10

0

-20

-20

-30

-40

-40

-60

-50
-60

-80
Oct-97

Oct-98

Oct-99

Oct-00

Oct-01

Oct-02

*Annualized values

Source: Semiconductor Industry Association.

Shipments of communications equipment by U.S. firms
(percent change in 3-month moving averages)
100

Oct-98

40

3 months prior*

25

Oct-02
*Annualized values

20

40

15

20

Communications
Equipment (CA)

10

Year-over-year

5

0

0

-20

-5
-10

-40

Electronic Components
& Accessories (CA)

-15

-60
Oct-98

Oct-01

Computer & Data
Processing Services
(WA and CA)

30

60

Oct-00

High-tech job growth
(percent change over year earlier)

35

80

Oct-99

Source: Bureau of the Census.

Computer & Office
Equipment (CA, OR, WA)

-20
Oct-99

Source: Bureau of the Census.

Oct-00

Oct-01

Oct-02
*Annualized values

Oct-98

Oct-99

Oct-00

Oct-01

Oct-02

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Western Economic Developments
December 2002

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

5

STATE HIGHLIGHTS
Alaska • Oregon • Washington
Nonagricultural payroll employment by state
(percent change over year earlier)

Nonagricultural payroll employment by MSA
(percent change over year earlier)

4

5
Anchorage

4

WA

3

3
2

2

AK

1
1

0
Portland-Vancouver

-1

0

-2

U.S.
-1

-3
OR

-4

-2

-5

Seattle-Bellevue-Everett

-6

-3
Oct-98

Oct-99

Oct-00

Oct-01

Oct-02

Oct-98

Oct-99

Oct-00

Oct-01

Oct-02

Percent Change
3-mo.a
YTD a

12-mo.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Employment by Industry
"MBTLB

Total Employed
(thousands)
Oct-02

Total
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
T.C.P.U.
Trade
F.I.R.E.
Services
Government

1-mo.a

Percent Change
3-mo.a
YTD a

12-mo.

295.4
9.6
15.5
14.0
27.5
59.6
12.9
75.8
80.5

2.9
0.0
-14.3
41.6
-4.3
4.1
20.6
0.0
3.0

2.9
-18.4
8.1
12.3
-2.9
5.6
6.4
6.0
0.0

1.6
-9.2
5.7
7.3
-2.6
1.6
0.0
3.4
1.5

1.4
-9.4
4.7
-0.7
-2.1
1.4
1.6
3.4
1.9

1,584.0
1.6
73.8
228.7
76.8
389.6
96.4
446.5
270.6

2.2
-51.7
8.5
9.9
-4.6
3.1
3.8
0.0
-1.3

0.3
-21.5
5.0
1.6
-4.1
-0.2
2.5
-0.4
0.6

0.3
-7.0
-1.3
0.2
-1.8
0.5
1.5
0.5
0.5

-0.2
-11.1
-2.3
-1.5
-2.3
0.1
0.8
0.6
0.1

8BTIJOHUPO

Total
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
T.C.P.U.
Trade
F.I.R.E.
Services
Government

2,640.6
3.1
145.9
301.6
135.2
621.7
144.4
770.3
518.4

1-mo.a
3.5
48.2
0.0
-3.1
-6.0
-0.4
6.0
7.8
9.0

-1.1
0.0
2.8
-10.2
-4.6
-2.3
2.8
1.0
1.6

-0.7
-3.7
-0.4
-7.2
-4.9
-0.5
0.4
0.9
1.7

-1.4
-6.1
-2.7
-8.9
-6.2
-1.1
0.6
0.5
1.5

6OFNQMPZNFOU3BUFT 

0SFHPO
Total
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
T.C.P.U.
Trade
F.I.R.E.
Services
Government

Total Employed
(thousands)
Oct-02

Oct-02

Sep-02

Aug-02

Jul-02

Oct-01

Alaska
Oregon
Washington

6.8
7.0
6.7

7.5
6.8
7.4

7.3
7.0
7.2

6.7
7.3
7.1

6.1
7.2
6.9

U.S.

5.7

5.6

5.7

5.9

5.4

Unemployment rates are from the household employment survey; all other data are for nonagricultural payroll employment. All data are seasonally adjusted.
Annualized.

a

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

6

Western Economic Developments
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

December 2002

Residential permits—October 2002
3-mo. average
number
Alaska
Oregon
Washington

295.5
1,849.6
3,514.6

Metro area office vacancy rates

Moving average
percent change
3-mo.a
12-mo.a
28.9
-7.1
-3.6

13.9
2.4
-4.6

Percent
20
18
16
14

Source: Bureau of the Census.

12

Non-residential construction awards—October 2002
3-mo. average
$ millions
Alaska
Oregon
Washington
a

38.4
122.8
319.8

Moving average
percent change
3-mo.a
12-mo.a

8

-52.5
-39.1
-1.8

2

9.4
-14.5
-19.5

Portland

10

6

Seattle

4

0
Sep-98

Underlying data are seasonally adjusted moving averages.

Sep-99

Sep-00

Sep-01

Sep-02

Source: Torto Wheaton Research.

Source: F.W. Dodge.

Sales of existing homes
(percent change over year earlier)

Percent

25

40

20
15

Metro area office gross rents
(percent change over year earlier)
Seattle

30

WA

20

10
5

10

0

0

-5

-10

OR

-20

-10
-15
Sep-98

Portland

-30
Sep-99

Sep-00

Sep-01

Sep-02

Source: National Association of Realtors.

Sep-98

Sep-99

Sep-00

Sep-01

Sep-02

Source: Torto Wheaton Research.

Export update

Home price index
(percent change over year earlier)
12
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett

10

12 - month
Percent Change

$ billions
2001

September*

2000

2001

September*

Alaska

2.4

2.0

-5.6

-2.0

4.7

4

Oregon

8.0

6.8

6.6

-24.0

13.8

2

Washington

33.9

25.4

-13.1

8.5

-0.8

8
6
Portland-Vancouver

* Indicate year-to-date values.

0
Sep-98

Sep-99

Sep-00

Source: Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.

Sep-01

Sep-02
Source: Census FT900 Supplement, Origin of Movement Series.

Western Economic Developments
December 2002

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

7

STATE HIGHLIGHTS
Arizona • California • Hawaii
Nonagricultural payroll employment by state
(percent change over year earlier)
6

Nonagricultural payroll employment by MSA
(percent change over year earlier)

7
AZ

5

Phoenix

SF Bay Area

5

4
3

3
CA

2
1

LA-Long Beach

U.S.

1
0

-1

Honolulu

HI

-1
-3

-2
-3

-5

Nov-98

Nov-99

Nov-00

Nov-01

Nov-02

Nov-98

Nov-99

Nov-00

Nov-01

Nov-02

1-mo.a

Percent Change
3-mo.a
YTD a

12-mo.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Employment by Industry
"SJ[POB

Total Employed
(thousands)
Oct-02

Total
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
T.C.P.U.
Trade
F.I.R.E.
Services
Government

1-mo.a

Percent Change
3-mo.a
YTDa

12-mo.

2,252.3
8.5
160.7
192.6
105.0
533.3
148.8
713.8
389.6

9.2
15.3
10.2
-1.2
13.5
-1.3
0.8
7.7
37.5

1.3
0.0
9.2
-4.0
-0.8
-3.9
-0.3
5.4
2.3

0.3
-7.9
0.4
-5.7
-3.6
-0.4
-2.0
2.5
2.6

-0.3
-8.6
-1.5
-6.1
-4.2
-0.3
-1.7
1.2
2.4

551.9
.
24.5
17.4
38.6
133.1
33.0
186.9
118.4

3.8

1.5

1.4

0.3

$BMJGPSOJB

Total
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
T.C.P.U.
Trade
F.I.R.E.
Services
Government

14,647.0
23.6
751.3
1,784.5
713.4
3,371.7
850.9
4,679.5
2,472.1

-0.9
5.2
-2.8
-6.3
-2.5
-0.4
3.4
-1.0
2.6

-0.4
5.3
-2.9
-4.9
-2.0
0.1
4.1
0.7
-0.3

-0.1
-2.3
-1.4
-3.5
-3.1
1.2
0.0
-0.2
2.4

0.0
-2.5
-1.1
-3.4
-3.1
1.0
0.0
0.1
2.4

6OFNQMPZNFOU3BUFT 

)BXBJJ
Total
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
T.C.P.U.
Trade
F.I.R.E.
Services
Government

Total Employed
(thousands)
Nov-02

.
10.3
-12.8
-3.1
3.7
0.0
1.3
13.0

.
-1.6
-6.6
-5.0
2.4
-1.2
3.9
1.4

.

.

2.5
-2.0
0.9
0.6
0.7
2.2
1.6

5.2
-1.7
-5.9
-0.8
0.3
1.2
1.8

Arizona
Hawaii
U.S.

California

Oct-02

Sep-02

Aug-02

Jul-02

Oct-01

5.7
4.0
5.7

5.7
4.2
5.6

5.7
4.0
5.7

6.0
4.3
5.9

5.3
5.4
5.4

Nov-02
6.4

Oct-02
6.5

Aug-02
6.4

Nov-01
6.1

Sep-02
6.4

Unemployment rates are from the household employment survey; all other data are for nonagricultural payroll employment. All data are seasonally adjusted.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

8

Western Economic Developments
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

December 2002

Residential permits—October 2002
3-mo. average
number
Arizona
California
Hawaii

Metro area office vacancy rates

Moving average
percent change
3-mo.a
12-mo.a

5,818.6
14,663.6
544.7

3.2
21.8
19.1

5.6
6.7
6.3

Percent
25

20

Phoenix

Los Angeles
- Long Beach

Honolulu

15

Source: Bureau of the Census.

Non-residential construction awards—October 2002
10

Moving average
percent change
3-mo.a
12-mo.a

3-mo. average
$ millions
Arizona
California
Hawaii
a

264.7
1,263.3
15.2

-22.5
-3.9
-39.3

-16.9
-22.5
-18.2

Underlying data are seasonally adjusted moving averages.

San Francisco

5

0
Sep-98

Sep-99

Sep-00

Sep-01

Sep-02

Source: Torto Wheaton Research.

Source: F.W. Dodge.

Sales of existing homes
(percent change over year earlier)

Percent

40

Metro area office gross rents
(percent change over year earlier)

80

HI

San Francisco

30
60
20

40
Los Angeles - Long Beach

20

10

AZ
0

0

Phoenix
-20
CA

-10

-40

-20
Sep-98

-60
Sep-99

Sep-00

Sep-01

Sep-02

Source: National Association of Realtors.

Sep-98

Sep-99

Sep-00

Sep-01

Sep-02

Source: Torto Wheaton Research.

Export update

Home price index
(percent change over year earlier)
30
San Francisco

25

12 - month
Percent Change

$ billions
2001

September*

2000

2001

Arizona

11.1

7.9

19.0

-15.6

-8.5

California

90.7

58.2

19.5

-10.2

-16.9

Hawaii

0.3

0.3

33.4

8.8

32.6

20

September*

15
Los Angeles- Long Beach
10
5
0
-5

Honolulu

Phoenix-Mesa

* Indicate year-to-date values.

-10
Sep-98

Sep-99

Sep-00

Source: Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.

Sep-01

Sep-02
Source: Census FT900 Supplement, Origin of Movement Series.

Western Economic Developments
December 2002

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

9

STATE HIGHLIGHTS
Idaho • Nevada • Utah
Nonagricultural payroll employment by state
(percent change over year earlier)

Nonagricultural payroll employment by MSA
(percent change over year earlier)
10

8

Las Vegas

7

NV

8

6
5

6
ID

4

Boise
4

3

UT

2

2

1

U.S.

0

0
-1

-2

Salt Lake City

-2
-4

-3
Oct-98

Oct-99

Oct-00

Oct-01

Oct-02

Oct-98

Oct-99

Oct-00

Oct-01

Oct-02

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Employment by Industry
Total Employed
(thousands)
Oct-02

1-mo.a

Percent Change
3-mo.a
YTDa

Total Employed
(thousands)
Oct-02

12-mo.

*EBIP

1-mo.a

Percent Change
3-mo.a
YTD a

12-mo.

6UBI

Total
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
T.C.P.U.
Trade
F.I.R.E.
Services
Government

563.1
1.8
33.6
71.5
27.1
140.1
24.7
153.3
111.0

-0.2
98.6
-3.5
3.4
0.0
-3.4
0.0
4.0
-4.2

-2.0
25.7
-13.1
6.4
-4.3
-1.4
-3.2
1.3
-8.2

-1.2
7.1
-11.8
-1.8
-3.0
0.6
0.0
0.1
-1.3

-1.2
-10.0
-9.9
-3.4
-2.5
-0.1
0.8
0.9
-0.8

1,076.8
8.8
93.6
46.3
57.8
227.3
51.9
458.9
132.2

9.4
-23.6
3.9
5.3
13.3
0.0
0.0
14.0
21.2

2.3
-8.6
1.3
1.7
2.8
-0.2
1.6
2.8
6.3

3.1
-9.9
4.7
1.6
2.8
2.9
4.3
3.0
3.9

2.9
-10.2
3.7
1.1
2.1
2.4
3.4
3.3
3.7

Total
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
T.C.P.U.
Trade
F.I.R.E.
Services
Government

1.1
18.3
-1.8
-4.9
4.3
-2.9
-2.0
9.6
-2.4

-0.6
0.0
-3.6
0.0
-0.7
-0.7
0.0
-2.9
3.6

-1.2
-7.7
-9.7
-3.0
-2.1
-1.1
-1.6
0.0
2.1

-1.5
-7.7
-9.8
-4.0
-3.9
-1.8
-1.3
0.0
2.4

6OFNQMPZNFOU3BUFT 

/FWBEB

Total
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
T.C.P.U.
Trade
F.I.R.E.
Services
Government

1,063.4
7.2
65.0
119.9
57.4
245.1
59.3
314.1
195.4

Oct-02

Sep-02

Aug-02

Jul-02

Oct-01

Idaho
Nevada
Utah

5.5
4.5
5.1

5.4
4.9
5.3

5.3
5.0
5.0

5.4
5.4
5.2

5.1
6.6
4.8

U.S.

5.7

5.6

5.7

5.9

5.4

Unemployment rates are from the household employment survey; all other data are for nonagricultural payroll employment. All data are seasonally adjusted.
Annualized.

a

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

10

Western Economic Developments
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

December 2002

Residential permits—October 2002
3-mo. average
number
Idaho
Nevada
Utah

1,179.3
2,843.1
1,584.6

Metro area office vacancy rates

Moving average
percent change
3-mo.a
12-mo.a
33.4
-14.8
-6.0

1.4
-6.2
7.9

Percent
25
Salt Lake City

20
Las Vegas

Source: Bureau of the Census.

15

Non-residential construction awards—October 2002
3-mo. average
$ millions
Idaho
Nevada
Utah
a

41.3
174.3
107.4

Moving average
percent change
3-mo.a
12-mo.a
-22.2
8.3
-22.5

-16.4
-1.7
5.8

Underlying data are seasonally adjusted moving averages.

10

5

0
Sep-98

Sep-99

Sep-00

Sep-01

Sep-02

Source: Torto Wheaton Research.

Source: F.W. Dodge.

Sales of existing homes
(percent change over year earlier)

Percent

40

Metro area office gross rents
(percent change over year earlier)

15

Salt Lake City

NV

30

10
20
5

UT

10

0

0
ID
-10

-5

-20

-10

Las Vegas

Sep-98

Sep-99

Sep-00

Sep-01

Sep-02

Source: National Association of Realtors.

Sep-98

Sep-99

Sep-00

Sep-01

Sep-02

Source: Torto Wheaton Research.

Export update

Home price index
(percent change over year earlier)
9

12 - month
Percent Change

8

$ billions

Las Vegas

7

2001

September*

Idaho

1.9

1.2

53.6

-41.7

-23.0

Nevada

1.1

0.7

21.8

13.9

-11.4

Utah

3.4

3.1

1.7

9.3

24.4

6
5

2000

2001

September*

Salt Lake City

4
Boise

3
2
1
0
-1

* Indicate year-to-date values.

-2
Sep-98

Sep-99

Sep-00

Source: Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.

Sep-01

Sep-02
Source: Census FT900 Supplement, Origin of Movement Series.

Western Economic Developments
December 2002

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

11

2002 Issues
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Four additional updates to statistical charts are available online during interim
periods at http://www.frbsf.org/publications/economics/wed/index.html

Western Economic Developments is produced quarterly by the Financial and Regional Studies Section of the Economic Research Department of the Federal Reserve
Bank of San Francisco. The publication is managed by Mary Daly and edited by Anita Todd with contributions by Lily Hsueh, Geoffrey MacDonald, Rob Valletta,
and Jackie Yuen of the Economic Research Department. The analyses represent the views of the staff and do not reflect the official views of the senior bank
management of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco or the Federal Reserve System. Western Economic Developments is distributed by the Public Information
Department, (415) 974-3230. This publication is available on our website, http://www.frbsf.org.

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