Fried Over Easy

Ben Stein has competition nipping at his coattails.  Neal Fried, head economist for the State of Alaska, Department of Labor, Research and Analysis Section, presented as entertaining a commentary  that went over as easily among listeners about Alaska's, Washington's and the national economy as any other economist/comedian.

Among Fried's comments at today's meeting of the Transportation Club of Tacoma:

• 2009 is the first time Alaska's economy has shrunk in 21 years
• There have been 21 consecutive years of uninterrupted growth in Alaska
• Even then, job losses were -0.5% in 2009, compared with -4.6% for WA and 6.1% for US
• Easy to understand since AK's economy is so different: 
• 1/3 oil industry
• 1/3 federal
• 1/3 everything else
• Employment forecast
• 2010:  +0.4%
• 2011:  +0.6%
• Growth rate of 1.3% for 2000-2009
• 2009 first time ever Alaska's unemployment rate was below US average unemployment rate
• The Gulf of Mexico oil spill is of vital interest to AK
• BP is state's biggest oil producer
• Already impacting drilling permits offshore
• May increase interest in gas line proposals

Presented by the Alaska Committee of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, this event was another in a series of continuing initiatives to share more about the economic partnership tieing Alaska and Washington States.

Sponsorship support was provided by Alaska Airlines.