LONG BEACH — Released even later than usual by the Washington Department of Revenue, a report shows Pacific County holding onto post-pandemic economic gains last summer.
The county’s overall economy registered a 6.4% increase in the July-August-September quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter of the year in 2023, according to the state’s measure of a broad cross section of business sales. This was the 6th strongest result among the state’s 39 counties and compared with statewide growth of only 0.8%.
Construction was a particular bright spot for the county, with about $5.9 million more reported last summer than in summer 2023.
Some economic categories were less robust. Retail sales of goods and services by “Main Street”-type businesses fell slightly from one summer to the next, to just over $44.5 million in 2024, from $44.9 million.
Tourism was relatively steady, with total lodging receipts of about $13.4 million last summer, down from $13.67 million in 2023. Restaurants and bars — with a mix of local and tourist clientele — tallied about $17 million in sales last summer, an improvement from $16.6 million the prior summer.
Pacific County’s summers are busier than before the covid emergency led more people to seek out safe coastal settings.
The full gamut of economic sectors covered in DOR’s quarterly reports increased 39.5% in the county between the summers of 2019 and 2024. Inflation may account for around half the increase.
Some types of business have experienced significant growth in the summers since the covid shakeup. For example, bars and restaurants were up 57%; Main Street retail up 42% (including the subcategory of food stores up 80%); construction up 48%.
DOR’s quarterly reports for previous summers are supposed to be released in early February but were not available until mid-March this year. The complete report for all of 2024 is supposed to be finished by early June.