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FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF SAN FRANCISCO

Western
Economic
Developments
Signs of economic slowing follow blockbuster year for West
Several factors are working to slow the economy in the West following a period of rapid expansion in 2000. The 2000 benchmark
for nonfarm payroll employment reflected a noteworthy increase in
the Twelfth District’s employment growth in 2000, pushing growth
for the year up to 3.5 percent, more than twice the national pace of
1.4 percent.

Consumer confidence indices
1985=100
200

Present Situation

180
160

Overall Consumer Confidence

140
120
100
80

Expectations
Solid = Pacific
Dotted = Mountain States

60
Nov-99

Feb-00

May-00

Aug-00

Nov-00

Feb-01

Source: Conference Board.

Still, signs of slowing are evident in the District so far this year.
Regional consumer confidence indices for the Pacific states have
declined, and retail sales are weaker in the West than nationally. The
fall in stock prices has lowered consumers’ spendable wealth and
will affect tax revenues if capital gains and options earnings decline
as expected in 2001. The District’s high-tech sector has experienced
weaker sales, higher inventories, and lower earnings, prompting a
series of announced job reductions. Higher energy costs throughout the District also may slow the District’s economic expansion in
2001.
MARCH 2001

Nonagricultural payroll employment
(percent change over year earlier)
5

Benchmarked 2000 employment data revised up ............................2
Consumer confidence, spending weaken ............................................2

4

Options, capital gains boost California revenues ................................3

3

2
U.S.

1

0
Jan-97

Jan-98

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

IN THIS ISSUE

Twelfth District

Housing, construction remain brisk .........................................................3
Energy costs show through to consumers ............................................3
High-tech watch ............................................................................................5
STATE HIGHLIGHTS
Alaska, Oregon, Washington ................................................................ 6
Arizona, California, Hawaii .................................................................... 8
Idaho, Nevada, Utah ............................................................................. 10

Benchmarked 2000 employment data revised up
Newly released benchmarked employment data for 2000
indicate that the Twelfth District added jobs at an even faster
pace last year than earlier reported. The benchmark resulted
in a 0.6 percentage point increase in job growth to 3.5 percent for 2000 (see table below). The benchmark also raised
the level of total nonagricultural jobs in the District by
141,000 as of December 2000. California and Oregon recorded the largest benchmark revisions in total jobs among
District states, moving upward by about 111,000 and 15,000
jobs, respectively. The benchmark revisions added 0.8 and
0.9 percentage points to California and Oregon’s respective
2000 employment growth rates. The benchmark also added
1 percentage point to Hawaii’s job growth rate in 2000 and
increased employment levels in Alaska, Idaho, Utah, and
Washington. Nevada and Arizona, the nation’s two fastest
growing states based on pre-benchmark data, recorded small
downward revisions in job levels, which resulted in a growth
rate reduction of 0.1 percentage point for both.
Among the business sectors in the Twelfth District, services
and manufacturing employment recorded noteworthy upward revisions. The benchmark increased the level of service sector jobs by about 89,000, boosting the rate of growth
1.2 percentage points, to 5.4 percent for 2000. The benchmark revisions increased the level of service sector employment by about 68,000 for California, 7,500 for Washington, and 7,000 for Oregon. Business services accounted for
a large share of the upward revisions in service sector jobs
2000 payroll employment benchmark revisions1
Change in
Number Employed
(thousands)
District
Alaska
Arizona
California
Hawaii
Idaho
Nevada
Oregon
Utah
Washington

141.0
0.4
-3.6
111.1
5.4
0.8
-1.3
14.7
4.9
8.6

Growth Rate
Percentage
Revised Growth Rate
Point Change
for 2000 (%)
0.6
0.2
-0.1
0.8
1.0
0.2
-0.1
0.9
0.4
0.3

3.5
1.5
3.6
3.9
3.2
3.7
4.8
1.5
2.8
2.3

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

1 Comparisons are for December 2000 over December 1999. The benchmark changed the level of the employment series in both years.

2

in California and Washington; this fast-growing job classification includes high-tech software and computer services
jobs, as well as Internet employment.
The 2000 benchmark revision increased District manufacturing payrolls by about 25,000, with the largest increases
occurring in California. Most of the additional manufacturing jobs in California were in the sectors producing electronic components and accessories (semiconductors) and
measuring and controlling devices.

Consumer confidence, spending weaken
National consumer confidence, as measured by The Conference Board, fell again in February 2001 as consumers’
expectations about the next six months fell to the lowest
level since late 1993. The other key component of this series, consumers’ evaluation of the present economic situation, generally remained high despite declines in recent
months. The continued strength of the present situation
component suggests that the economy is expanding, albeit
more slowly.
Consumer confidence indices declined in February for both
the Pacific and Mountain regions, but the decline in the
Mountain index was slight, reflecting an improvement in
consumers’ evaluation of their present situation (see figure
on page 1).2 In contrast, the Pacific region index recorded
continued deterioration in consumers’ perception of their
present economic situation. Furthermore, the continued deterioration in both the Mountain and Pacific states’ expectations indices continues to raise concerns about future consumer spending patterns.
This lower level of consumer confidence over the past several months coincides with moderate-to-weak retail sales
figures in the West.3 Over the five months ending in February 2001, seasonally adjusted retail sales in the West have
been modest and have lagged the national pace. Sales at
general merchandise, apparel, and furniture stores in the
West have been weaker than nationally. The Federal Reserve
2 The Conference Board, Survey of Consumer Confidence. The Pacific
index includes Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. The
Mountain index includes the District states of Arizona, Idaho, Nevada,
and Utah, as well as Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
3 U.S. Regional Retail Sales, compiled from U.S. Department of Commerce (national data), Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd. (regional estimates), and the National Retail Federation. Published by Bank of TokyoMitsubishi, Economic Research, March 13, 2001. The West includes the
nine Twelfth District states, plus Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and
Wyoming.

Western Economic Developments
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

March 2001

System’s March 2001 Beige Book respondents in the District also noted slow sales of big-ticket items, including automobiles and trucks.

Options, capital gains boost California revenues
Stock options and capital gains have played an expanded
role in boosting consumer spending and government revenues over the past several years. The downward movement in the equity markets over the past year likely will
affect the wealth and spending of households and businesses
and may lower state government tax receipts from stock
options and capital gains. A recent report by the California
Department of Finance indicates that stock options and capital gains account for more than one-fifth of the state’s General Fund revenues in 2000. The same report estimates that
income from exercising options accounted for up to 13 percent of the wage and salary income in the state last year.4
California’s increased dependence on revenues from these
sources has made the General Fund and the state budget
more sensitive to movements in the equity market. The falling income from options and capital gains would be hitting
at a time when the state’s surplus is shrinking because of its
purchases of energy. So far this year, the state’s purchases of
electricity have totaled about $3.0 billion. Although the state
expects to cover the cost of the electricity with revenue
bonds, it likely will have fewer surplus funds to direct toward other areas of spending.

Housing, construction remain brisk
Residential housing markets in the Twelfth District continue
to show strength, despite concerns about consumer confidence and spending. Twelfth District residential housing
permits, on a seasonally adjusted year-over-year basis, rose
by more than 11 percent at an annual rate in January, the
fastest pace of growth since August 1998.5 The recent
strength was broadbased; January 2001 housing permits
increased in every District state except for Arizona. Recently
released fourth quarter housing price data indicate that appreciation continued in a number of metropolitan areas,
especially the San Francisco and Los Angeles markets. How4 California Department of Finance, 2001-2002, Governor’s Budget Summary, Economic Outlook. http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/Budgt01-02/
EconomicOutlook-T.htm (accessed March 2001). The report noted that
the corresponding figure for 1995 was less than 2 percent.
5 Residential housing permit series used here are calculated on a seasonally
adjusted 3-month moving average. Data can be found in the State Highlights section of this document.

ever, house prices softened noticeably in Boise, Portland,
and Seattle. Housing sales activity in the fourth quarter was
mixed on a year-over-year basis, increasing in Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon, remaining essentially flat in Arizona, California, and Idaho, and declining in Utah and
Washington.
The commercial real estate sector remains basically sound,
although a few signs of caution have emerged. Nonresidential construction activity was strong for most of the District
in January 2001. However, dot-com layoffs and closings
have increased availability of commercial office space in the
District, most notably in California and Washington. Reports show subleasing is increasing, vacancy rates are edging up, and rents have been falling in some office markets.
Still, office vacancy rates remain relatively tight, under 6
percent for the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle.

Energy costs show through to consumers
Wholesale prices of natural gas and electricity have risen
dramatically in the West in recent months. These wholesale
price increases are showing through to rates paid by households and businesses, particularly for natural gas.
The U.S. natural gas industry is largely deregulated, with
the price of gas determined by supply and demand, and the
consumer’s monthly bill determined by price and the volume of gas delivered to the residence.6 The commodity portion of the bill fluctuates one-for-one with the price of natural gas. As a result of this structure, rising wholesale prices
for natural gas show through to consumer prices almost
immediately. Figure 1 shows the change in natural gas prices
at the PG&E City Gate pricing point (left scale) and the
change in the natural gas component of the CPI for the San
Francisco Bay Area (right scale). The PG&E City Gate price
for natural gas increased by about 500 percent between January 2000 and January 1999. At the same time, the natural
gas component of the CPI covering part of PG&E’s service
area increased by about 160 percent. Given that natural gas
represents, on average, about one-third of the consumer’s
bill, the change in the CPI reflects a near total pass-through
of the increase. In other parts of the West, where natural gas
prices have risen less rapidly, consumers have seen more
6 A consumer’s bill consists of three main parts: transmission (cost of moving gas from the well-head to the utility); distribution (cost of bringing
gas to the residence); and the commodity (the cost of the gas itself). On
average, the commodity cost accounts for about one-third of the bill, or
34 percent, with distribution costs accounting for 47 percent and transmission costs accounting for 19 percent.

Western Economic Developments
March 2001

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

3

Figure 2: Electricity—PG&E average cost
and San Francisco Bay Area CPI
(year-over-year change)

Figure 1: Natural gas—PG&E City Gate price
and San Francisco Bay Area CPI
(year-over-year change)
Percent
800

Percent
267

200

234

700

200

600

167

500

134

400

100

300

100

300

75

200

67

200

50

34

100

25

700
600
500

PG&E City Gate price
(left scale)

400

100

CPI, natural gas
(right scale)

0

0

-100
Apr-99

-33
Jul-99

Oct-99

Jan-00

Apr-00

Jul-00

Oct-00

Jan-01

Source: Author’s calculations using data from Natural Gas Daily
and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

modest price increases. In the Los Angeles area and San
Diego, consumer prices for natural gas increased by 54 and
34 percent, respectively. In the Pacific Northwest, price increases were highest in the Seattle area where consumer gas
prices rose by 46 percent; in Portland, prices rose by 18
percent. Overall, in western cities other than the San Francisco Bay Area, the increase in consumer natural gas prices
over the past year was a bit lower than the average increase
in the U.S.
Unlike natural gas, retail prices for residential electricity consumers largely are subject to regulation. In most areas in
the West this means local utilities must apply for rate increases. Such applications must show increases in the average cost of providing electricity. For a given utility, the impact on average cost of a rise in the wholesale spot price of
electricity depends on a number of factors including the
utility’s generation capacity, the type of generation it uses,
and its long-term contracts with fuel and power suppliers.
Although cost-based increases typically are allowed, there
frequently is a lag between wholesale price increases and
retail price hikes. Finally, the cost of electricity represents
about 40 percent of the consumer’s bill, with the remainder
being made up of transmission and distribution.
While cost-based pricing is allowed in most Western states,
retail rates in many areas of California have been frozen well
below average cost. The result of this cap on prices is apparent in Figure 2, which shows the average cost of electricity to PG&E (left scale) and the electricity component of the
CPI for the San Francisco Bay Area (right scale). Compared

4

Percent

Percent
800

175
150

Average cost of electricity
(left scale)

0

125

0

CPI, electricity (right scale)

-100

-25

Apr-99

Jul-99

Oct-99

Jan-00

Apr-00

Jul-00

Oct-00

Jan-01

Source: Author’s calculations using data from PG&E and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

to natural gas, the rise in electricity prices for Bay Area consumers has been modest. While the average cost of electricity for PG&E increased by about 385 percent between January 2000 and January 2001, the electricity component of
the CPI rose by about 10 percent. One exception to the
modest electricity increases is in San Diego, where the electricity component of the CPI increased by about 55 percent
between December 1999 and December 2000; this largely
reflects the change in the commodity charge from 3.5 cents
to 6.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, the cap restored after the
summer price surge.
In the rest of the West, increases in electricity prices have
been relatively modest on balance, although somewhat
higher than the U.S. average. However, some communities
have announced notable increases in future rates. For example, Seattle City Light has received two electricity rate
increases in the past three months in order to offset the
rising cost of acquiring electricity. A number of other electric utilities in the West have applied for and received costbased retail rate increases for the coming year.

To subscribe to Western Economic Developments,
call (415) 974-3230.
This publication is available on our website
http://www.frbsf.org

Western Economic Developments
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

March 2001

High-tech Watch
The high-tech sector softened in recent months. Dot-com
layoffs continued, as Internet firms were squeezed by the
need to generate more cash flow (if not profits) and attract
increasingly limited venture capital funding. Despite some
downsizing in the sector, California continued to add Internet
jobs through the third quarter of 2000, although at much
reduced rates from early in the year. Cutbacks at Internet
firms have contributed to weakness among producers of
Internet infrastructure and communications equipment, including servers and networking equipment. The high-technology manufacturing sector has been hurt by slower sales
of computers, cell phones, and Internet-related equipment,
driving up inventories, intensifying price pressures, and
narrowing profit margins.

Many District computer, semiconductor, and high-tech infrastructure manufacturers have reported weaker than expected sales and earnings and issued warnings about job
reductions. In the most recent period, semiconductor sales
reported by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA)
fell 5.7 percent from December 2000 to January 2001; lower
sales were reported across all areas of the globe. Semiconductor sales growth on a year-over-year basis remains positive, however it has fallen sharply in recent months. The
slowdown in sales growth reflects a sharp decline in new
orders for electronic and other electrical goods. New orders
have fallen from a growth rate of over 25 percent in 2000 to
nearly zero in January 2001.

Electronic and other electrical goods
(change over year earlier)

Computer and office equipment
(change over year earlier)
Percent
30

Percent
30
25

25

New Orders (U.S.)

20

20

15

15

10

10
Shipments
(U.S.)

5

0
Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Source: Bureau of the Census.

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Source: Bureau of the Census.

U.S. monthly semiconductor sales
(change over year earlier)

Percent
30

Percent
60
50

High-tech job growth
(change over year earlier)
Computer & Data Processing Services (WA)

25

Worldwide

40

20
East Asia

30

15
Americas

20

Electronic Components & Accessories (CA)

10

10

Europe

5

0

0

-10

-5

-20
-30
Jan-97

Shipments
(U.S.)

5

0
Jan-96

New Orders (U.S.)

Jan-98

Jan-99

Source: Semiconductor Industry Association.

Jan-00

Jan-01

-10
Jan-98

Computer & Office Equipment
(CA, OR, WA)
Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Western Economic Developments
March 2001

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

5

Alaska • Oregon • Washington
Nonagricultural payroll employment by MSA
(percent change over year earlier)

Nonagricultural payroll employment by state
(percent change over year earlier)
5

7

4

5

OR
3

Seattle-Bellevue-Everett

6

WA

U.S.

4
3

2

Anchorage

2

AK
1

1
Portland-Vancouver
0

0

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Employment by Industry
Total Employed
(thousands)
Jan-01

1-mo.

a

Percent Change
a
a
3-mo.
YTD

Total Employed
(thousands)
Jan-01

12-mo.

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

285.7
11.2
14.7
14.2
27.3
57.7
12.7
74.1
73.8

4.3
0.0
28.1
188.5
14.2
-11.7
0.0
6.7
-9.3

2.4
3.7
8.6
33.9
7.7
-2.7
0.0
5.0
-3.7

4.3
0.0
28.1
188.5
14.2
-11.7
0.0
6.7
-9.3

1.6
19.1
1.4
-2.7
1.1
0.7
-0.8
3.1
0.0

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

1602.1
1.8
89.6
241.3
80.3
390.6
94.7
439.0
264.8

-7.5
-47.7
24.1
-17.5
-7.2
-9.9
1.3
-12.9
3.7

-2.5
-19.4
7.5
-3.1
-2.5
-5.3
2.6
-4.8
1.2

-7.5
-47.7
24.1
-17.5
-7.2
-9.9
1.3
-12.9
3.7

0.8
-5.3
7.2
-0.6
2.0
-0.2
0.5
1.2
0.3

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

2747.7
3.7
165.2
347.2
149.8
658.3
138.8
798.7
486.0

1-mo.

a

2.7
94.8
6.8
3.5
-2.4
-1.6
6.3
3.7
5.3

Percent Change
a
a
3-mo.
YTD
2.5
24.9
6.0
-0.3
2.7
0.9
3.8
3.9
2.5

2.7
94.8
6.8
3.5
-2.4
-1.6
6.3
3.7
5.3

12-mo.
2.2
8.8
4.0
-2.9
4.7
2.1
0.7
4.6
1.3

Unemployment Rates (%)
Jan-01

Dec-00

Nov-00

Oct-00

Jan-00

Alaska
Oregon
Washington

6.1
4.4
5.0

5.9
4.2
5.0

6.2
4.4
5.1

6.3
4.7
5.2

7.0
5.2
5.0

U.S.

4.2

4.0

4.0

3.9

4.0

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

March 2001

Residential permits—January 2001

number
Alaska
Oregon
Washington

Metro area office vacancy rates

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

3-mo. average

221.2
1946.0
4116.3

9.3
21.7
17.1

Percent
10
9

-5.6
-6.0
-1.9

7

Source: Bureau of the Census.

6
5

Non-residential construction awards—January 2001

$ millions
Alaska
Oregon
Washington

4

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

3-mo. average

a

Portland

8

46.2
163.3
430.0

53.1
-20.7
18.4

Seattle

3
2
1

7.9
8.2
4.6

0
Dec-96

Underlying data are seasonally adjusted moving averages.

Dec-97

Dec-98

Dec-99

Dec-00

Source: CB Richard Ellis.

Source: F.W. Dodge.

Metro area industrial vacancy rates

Sales of existing homes
(percent change over year earlier)

Percent
16

30
25

14

20

12

15

WA

10

8

5

Portland

6

0

4

-5

OR

2

-10

0

-15
Dec-96

Seattle

10

Dec-97

Dec-98

Dec-99

Dec-96

Dec-00

Source: National Association of Realtors.

Dec-97

Dec-98

Dec-99

Dec-00

Source: CB Richard Ellis.

Median home price appreciation
(percent change over year earlier)

Export update—January 2001

18
$ billions

16

1999

2000

YTD

a

2000

YTD

Alaska

2.4

0.1

32.7

-5.6

-71.2

Oregon

10.5

0.8

15.3

6.6

-24.1

Washington

31.2

1.9

-4.1

-13.1

-30.0

14
12

Percent Change

Seattle

10
8
Portland

6
4
2
0
Dec-96

Dec-97

Source: National Association of Realtors.

Dec-98

Dec-99

Dec-00

a

Percent change from same period a year earlier.

Source: Census FT900 Supplement, Origin of Movement Series.

Western Economic Developments
March 2001

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

7

Arizona • California • Hawaii
Nonagricultural payroll employment by MSA
(percent change over year earlier)

Nonagricultural payroll employment by state
(percent change over year earlier)
6

7

5

6

AZ

Phoenix

5

4
CA

SF Bay

4

3

3

2

2

U.S.

1

1

LA-Long Beach

HI
0

0

Honolulu

-1

-1

-2

Feb-97

Feb-98

Feb-99

Feb-00

Feb-01

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Employment by Industry
Total Employed
(thousands)
Jan-01

Total Employed
(thousands)

Percent Change

1-mo.a

3-mo.a

YTDa

12-mo.

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

2,273.2
9.7
165.8
216.6
109.8
528.5
144.5
727.7
370.6

-3.7
0.0
4.4
-1.1
-9.3
-6.4
-8.7
-4.5
0.6

0.4
-4.0
1.7
0.4
-1.1
-0.8
-1.6
1.1
1.9

-3.7
0.0
4.4
-1.1
-9.3
-6.4
-8.7
-4.5
0.6

3.0
-1.0
4.9
1.5
2.3
1.9
1.6
4.3
2.9

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

543.8
.
22.8
17.0
41.7
135.5
33.9
179.5
113.4

-9.2
.
0.0
7.2
-2.7
-5.0
7.4
-5.6
-28.8

-0.9

-9.2
.
0.0
7.2
-2.7
-5.0
7.4
-5.6
-28.8

2.6

Feb-01
California
Total
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
T.C.P.U.
Trade
F.I.R.E.
Services
Government

14,751.7
23.7
761.9
1,946.0
761.0
3,344.9
837.4
4,729.7
2,347.1

Percent Change
1-mo.a
3.1
5.2
2.9
-2.5
-0.2
5.8
5.8
4.9
1.0

3-mo.a
0.9
0.0
2.5
-0.4
4.1
-0.2
1.1
0.4
3.0

YTD a
3.1
5.2
2.9
-2.5
-0.2
5.8
5.8
4.9
1.0

12-mo.
3.1
3.0
6.5
0.6
3.5
2.4
2.2
4.6
2.6

Unemployment Rates (%)
.
0.0
0.0
2.8
1.7
3.7
1.1
-9.8

.
6.2
3.0
4.9
2.9
-1.2
4.4
-1.2

Arizona
Hawaii
U.S.

California

Jan-01

Dec-00

Nov-00

Oct-00

Jan-00

3.9
4.1
4.2

3.7
4.2
4.0

3.7
4.1
4.0

3.8
4.1
3.9

4.2
4.8
4.0

Feb-01
4.5

Jan-01
4.6

Nov-00
4.8

Feb-00
4.9

Dec-00
4.7

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.

8

Western Economic Developments
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

March 2001

Residential permits—January 2001
3-mo. average
number
Arizona
California
Hawaii

4,468.5
14,278.9
418.0

Moving average
percent change
3-mo.a
12-mo.a
-12.9
25.0
28.8

-5.7
10.6
11.3

Metro area office vacancy rates
Percent
20
18
16

12

Non-residential construction awards—January 2001
3-mo. average
$ millions
Arizona
California
Hawaii
a

LA

14

Source: Bureau of the Census.

406.6
1,703.5
25.5

10
8

Moving average
percent change
3-mo.a
12-mo.a
37.9
8.3
21.4

Phoenix

6
San Francisco

4
2

21.3
16.1
-59.2

0
Dec-96

Dec-97

Dec-98

Dec-99

Dec-00

Source: CB Richard Ellis.

Underlying data are seasonally adjusted moving averages.

Source: F.W. Dodge.

Metro area industrial vacancy rates

Sales of existing homes
(percent change over year earlier)
40

Percent
14

30

12
LA

10

HI

20

Phoenix

8
AZ

10

6

San Francisco

4
0

2

CA
-10
Dec-96

0
Dec-97

Dec-98

Dec-99

Dec-00

Dec-96

Dec-97

Dec-98

Dec-99

Dec-00

Source: CB Richard Ellis.

Source: National Association of Realtors.

Median home price appreciation
(percent change over year earlier)

Export update—January 2001

30

$ billions

25

SF Bay

Percent Change
1999

2000

a

YTD

2000

YTD

13.2

1.2

3.8

19.0

19.1

100.9

8.6

0.1

19.5

24.0

0.3

0.0

0.0

33.4

-4.9

20
15

LA Area

Arizona

10
5

California

Phoenix

0

Hawaii

-5

Honolulu

-10
-15
Dec-96

Dec-97

Source: National Association of Realtors.

Dec-98

Dec-99

Dec-00

a

Percent change from same period a year earlier.

Source: Census FT900 Supplement, Origin of Movement Series.

Western Economic Developments
March 2001

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

9

Idaho • Nevada • Utah
Nonagricultural payroll employment by MSA
(percent change over year earlier)

Nonagricultural payroll employment by state
(percent change over year earlier)
8

10

7

9

NV

6

Las Vegas

8
7

5

6

ID

4

Boise

5

UT

4

3

3

U.S.

2

2

1

Salt Lake City

1
0

0
Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-97

Jan-01

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Employment by Industry
Total Employed
(thousands)
Jan-01

Total Employed
(thousands)

Percent Change
1-mo.

a

3-mo.

a

YTD

a

12-mo.

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

564.0
2.5
35.5
76.9
27.9
143.7
23.6
144.8
109.1

-8.3
0.0
-35.1
6.5
-8.2
-11.0
-9.6
-13.8
4.5

-1.6
0.0
-12.5
2.1
-5.5
-3.8
-1.7
-0.3
1.9

-8.3
0.0
-35.1
6.5
-8.2
-11.0
-9.6
-13.8
4.5

2.6
0.0
-1.7
0.3
1.5
3.8
0.4
4.9
2.2

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

1051.6
10.8
88.8
45.9
58.2
224.3
48.7
451.6
123.3

-1.6
-10.5
-2.7
8.2
2.1
5.5
5.1
-6.2
-2.9

3.6
-3.6
5.6
8.2
7.2
7.7
4.2
0.5
3.6

-1.6
-10.5
-2.7
8.2
2.1
5.5
5.1
-6.2
-2.9

4.2
-3.6
2.7
5.3
6.4
7.0
6.1
3.0
3.4

Jan-01
Utah
Total
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
T.C.P.U.
Trade
F.I.R.E.
Services
Government

1,090.4
8.2
73.2
131.6
60.1
254.1
58.6
317.2
187.4

Percent Change
1-mo.

a

-0.3
15.9
-7.8
-0.9
-19.6
-0.9
17.9
-0.8
5.9

3-mo.

a

YTD

1.5
0.0
0.5
-0.9
-7.6
0.6
8.6
3.0
3.5

a

-0.3
15.9
-7.8
-0.9
-19.6
-0.9
17.9
-0.8
5.9

12-mo.
2.6
3.8
0.1
0.3
0.5
1.7
2.3
5.1
2.9

Unemployment Rates (%)
Jan-01

Dec-00

Nov-00

Oct-00

Jan-00

Idaho
Nevada
Utah

4.5
4.2
3.5

4.8
4.4
3.2

4.8
4.4
3.2

4.8
4.3
3.2

5.0
4.2
3.4

U.S.

4.2

4.2

4.0

4.0

4.0

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

March 2001

Residential permits—January 2001

Idaho
Nevada
Utah

Metro area office vacancy rates

Moving average
percent change

3-mo. average
number

3-mo.a

12-mo.a

946.8
3,012.1
1,326.1

8.5
8.9
-0.8

-2.8
3.2
-7.5

Percent
18

Las Vegas

16
14
12

Source: Bureau of the Census.

10

Non-residential construction awards—January 2001

8

Moving average
percent change

3-mo. average

3-mo.

$ millions

a

Salt Lake City

6

12-mo.

4

a

2

Idaho
Nevada
Utah
a

57.1
178.9
124.9

-19.7
-2.7
-13.1

-2.4
34.5
-14.2

0
Dec-96

Underlying data are seasonally adjusted moving averages.

Dec-97

Dec-98

Dec-99

Dec-00

Source: CB Richard Ellis.

Source: F.W. Dodge.

Metro area industrial vacancy rates

Sales of existing homes
(percent change over year earlier)

Percent
25

30
20

NV

20

UT

10

Las Vegas

15

0

10

ID

-10

5

-20

Salt Lake City
0

-30
Dec-96

Dec-97

Dec-98

Dec-99

Dec-00

Source: National Association of Realtors.

Dec-96

Dec-97

Dec-98

Dec-99

Dec-00

Source: CB Richard Ellis.

Median home price appreciation
(percent change over year earlier)

Export update—January 2001

20

$ billions
2000
YTD

Boise

1999

Percent Change
a
YTD
2000

15

10

Salt Lake City

Idaho

3.2

0.2

42.6

53.6

29.8

Nevada

1.0

0.1

41.5

21.8

49.2

Utah

3.1

0.3

5.1

1.7

1.7

Las Vegas

5

0

-5
Dec-96

Dec-97

Source: National Association of Realtors.

Dec-98

Dec-99

Dec-00

a

Percent change from same period a year earlier.

Source: Census FT900 Supplement, Origin of Movement Series.

Western Economic Developments
March 2001

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

11

2001 Issues

Mailing Dates

March

March 30

June

July 3

October

October 9

December

December 18

Western Economic Developments is produced quarterly by the Banking 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 Carol D’Souza, Fred Furlong and Gary Zimmerman 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) 9743230. This publication is available on our website, http://www.frbsf.org.

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