Rolf Boone of The Olympian filed this report yesterday:
“A downturn in the U.S. economy could eventually be felt in Washington and South Sound, reversing a trend in which local economies showed improvement in the first half of the year…

Although there has been modest job growth, too, in Thurston County, regional economist Jim Vleming is not ready to stand up and cheer, partly because of cuts to the state budget, the slow pace of construction typically a big driver of seasonal hiring and the job growth the county has experienced, which still doesnt match recent job growth, such as in 2008, he said. Potential big projects in the county, such as the former Olympia brewery, continue to sit idle, too. ‘The people with deep pockets are playing it safe and close to the vest at this point,’ Vleming said.”

Ed. Note:
Yelm Community Blog readers know this writer has been echoes caution for quite some time, regardless of Yelm’s sales increase numbers.