Governor Bill Walker discussed his FY2016 (July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016) budget proposal at yesterday’s Anchorage Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Having been in the office only two weeks, Governor Walker submitted a $5.3 billion operating budget developed by his predecessor, former Governor Sean Parnell. Walker has not endorsed... Continue reading

Associated General Contractors Executive Director John MacKinnon and Economist Scott Goldsmith from UAA’s Institute of Social and Economic Research discuss expected Alaska construction spending in 2013 during the recent Associated General Contractors annual Alaska Construction Spending Forecast. According to the forecast, construction spending in Alaska in 2013 is estimated to... Continue reading

Alaska continues to have some of the lowest levels of foreclosures and delinquent residential mortgage loans in the United States according to the Mortgage Bankers Association fourth quarter 2012 survey. Alaska ranked third best in the nation in both foreclosures and delinquencies of all loan types. The total inventory of... Continue reading

The Associated General Contractors of Alaska released its annual construction spending forecast prepared by Scott Goldsmith and Mouhcine Guettabi of the University of Alaska’s Institute of Social and Economic Research. The report provides an informative review and estimate of construction activity in Alaska for 2013. According to the forecast, construction... Continue reading

If Alaska were a country, according to DNR research, the state would be a leader in a number of important resources. Continue reading

Professor of Economics Scott Goldsmith from UAA’s Institute of Social and Economic Research discusses the total expected Alaska construction spending in 2011 during the recent Associated General Contractors annual Alaska Construction Spending Forecast. Continue reading

Associated General Contractors’ John MacKinnon discusses the future of federal highway funding in Alaska as well as the benefits of a state transportation bill during a presentation at the AGC 2011 Alaska Construction Spending Forecast. Continue reading

Alaska's salmon harvest totaled 171 million fish, 34 million greater than the preseason forecasts, according to a report published in February by the State of Alaska Department of Fish & Game. The Division of Commercial Fisheries is expecting an increase in commercial salmon catches in 2011 primarily due to a 25% projected increase in pink salmon over 2010's catch. Continue reading

One of the bright spots in construction spending in 2011 is expected to be associated with healthcare according to UAA Professor of Economics Scott Goldsmith of the Institute of Social and Economic Research during his presentation at the Associated General Contractors annual Alaska Construction Spending Forecast recently. To read the... Continue reading

A new analysis by Scott Goldsmith, professor of economics at the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the University of Alaska Anchorage, examines the issue of preserving petroleum wealth for future generations of Alaskans. Almost all of Alaska’s state revenues come from oil, and since production is declining,... Continue reading

Economist Scott Goldsmith from the Institute for Social and Economic Research discusses expected construction spending and activity in 2011 in the mining industry. He presented his research at the Associated General Contractors annual Alaska Construction Spending Forecast. To read the full report, click here. Continue reading

Associated General Contractors’ Executive Director John MacKinnon discusses the seven-year-trend of expenditures in the oil and gas industry, how that money is being spent, and how it affects the state’s economy and the construction industry. This was presented at AGC’s annual Alaska Construction Spending Forecast in February 2011. Click here... Continue reading

Economist Scott Goldsmith from the Institute for Social and Economic Research discusses expected Cook Inlet gas production and spending in 2011 as part of the Associated General Contractors annual Alaska Construction Spending Forecast. Click here for the full report. Continue reading

Northrim Bank Economist and Commercial Loan Officer Mark Edwards takes a look at Alaska's Gross Domestic Product and discusses the oil and gas industry's impact on the different sectors of the state's economy. Continue reading

Many Alaskans have benefited from historically low rates by Mark Edwards Statistics for the first quarter of 2010 show that the amount of mortgage refinance activity has slowed down after a record setting level in 2009. The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) recently released the Alaska Housing Market Indicators report.... Continue reading

by Mark Edwards The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) has released the 1st quarter 2010 Alaska Housing Market Indicators report. It tracks new loan activity for single family homes and condominiums in Alaska. The data is based on a survey representing approximately 95% of mortgage lenders in Alaska and also... Continue reading

Northrim Bank Economist and Commercial Loan Officer Mark Edwards discusses increased state spending in a period of decreasing oil production and revenues. Continue reading

Northrim Bank Economist and Commercial Loan Officer Mark Edwards looks at average Alaska North Slope oil prices going back to 1988. Prices are up, but what does that mean for the future? Continue reading

by Mark Edwards The Mortgage Bankers Association has released the results of the first quarter 2010 national mortgage loan survey. Alaska continues to have some of the lowest levels of foreclosures and delinquent loans in the country. Alaska has improved slightly over the last six months in these important indicators;... Continue reading

Northrim Bank Economist and Commercial Loan Officer Mark Edwards shares a troubling graph in a discussion of declining oil production in Alaska. Continue reading

Northrim Bank Economist and Commercial Loan Officer Mark Edwards takes a look at Alaska's Gross Domestic Product and discusses the oil and gas industry's impact on the different sectors of the state's economy. Continue reading

At Northrim's Economic Update Luncheon, an audience member asked Keynote Speaker Dan Dickinson, "Do the shale gas reserves in the lower 48 affect the viability of the Alaska natural gas pipeline?" Hear Dan's answer in the clip below. Continue reading