compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key categories: economic activity, economic health, and innovation potential.

“And the news is good for Washington. It cracked the top three,” WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo told łÉČËXŐľ Newsradio. “Only behind Massachusetts and Utah, and just ahead of California.”

Lupo pointed out Washington has been at the forefront of new technology, noting the state has the highest number of invention patents per capita.

In the WalletHub analysis, Washington also had the second-highest share of jobs in high-tech industries and the second-highest share of ‘STEM’ professionals, or workers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

Lupo said those jobs are drawing people from around the world.

“New immigrants to Washington are the seventh-most educated in the country,” Lupo said.

Unemployed and underemployed rates in WA

The prospect of getting a great job attracts new residents and keeps many of those born or raised in Washington from leaving. However, finding a good job can be challenging.

“Washington has an above-average unemployment rate of 4.3% and an extremely high, now this is key, underemployment rate,” Lupo said.

Nine percent of Washingtonians are underemployed, meaning they’re working in a job that doesn’t adequately utilize their skills or experience. A notable example is a person with a college degree who works as a waiter or delivery driver.

Utah, which has an unemployment rate of 3.1%, edged out Washington for second place on the list. Utah also has a strong median income compared to its relatively low cost of living.

Massachusetts ranked No. 1. Lupo noted that the state not only invests heavily in industry, but also in academics. Washington has a few dozen public and private universities. Massachusetts has more than 100.

Why does having a strong state economy matter?

“The stronger your economy, the more tax dollars come into the state, which means better infrastructure, better quality of life for all the residents,” Lupo said.

Read more of Heather Bosch’s stories here.

The cost of gas hasn’t been this low in the U.S. since 2021. As of Friday, the national average gas price is $3.20, according to . Over the past two years, national gas prices averaged around $3.61 for Memorial Day weekend, while 2022 had average gas prices north of $4.50.

“If you adjust for inflation and rising wages, Americans are actually going to spend the least amount filling up this Memorial Day since 2003, excluding COVID,” GasBuddy wrote in a release. “Prices are forecast to average $3.02 per gallon over the summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with a sub-$3 per gallon national average possible on some days, especially toward the latter half of the summer.”

What about WA’s gas prices?

While not increasing, Washington failed to see much of a drop in gas prices statewide. Gas has actually jumped up slightly to $4.40, compared to $4.29 a month ago. Still, gas has fallen year-over-year by 17.9 cents.

Washington only trails California ($4.87) and Hawaii ($4.49) in average gas prices. Oregon ($3.99), Nevada ($3.93), Alaska ($3.64), Illinois ($3.44), Arizona ($3.37), Idaho ($3.32), and Pennsylvania ($3.31) round out the top 10.

Mississippi ($2.66), Louisiana ($2.71), Alabama ($2.74), Tennessee ($2.77), Texas ($2.78), Arkansas ($2.80), South Carolina ($2.81), Oklahoma ($2.81), Kentucky ($2.85), and Missouri ($2.87) are the 10 cheapest states for gas.

Supply and demand are playing a role in this year’s lower pump prices as crude oil supply is currently surpassing demand,” stated.

Memorial Day weekend is one of the biggest travel weekends of the year, with AAA expecting nearly 40 million people to travel by car over Memorial Day weekend this year, an increase of 3% compared to last year.

“While we’re forecasting the lowest summer gas prices in years, economic jitters are slightly dampening optimism — but we still expect a robust travel season, with millions of Americans hitting the road, many for extended trips,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, added.

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Factoring in inflation, this donation gives the Gates Foundation an additional $200 billion over the next two decades to help complete its large-reaching goals: Curing preventable diseases and helping the impoverished. Donating about 99% of his personal wealth will double the speed of the work the foundation is committed to, which factors into Gates’ next part of his plan—to shutter the foundation’s doors in 20 years after the foundation spends the $200 billion and completes its work.

“It’s an incredible group,” Gates told regarding the Gates Foundation. “And I want to say to them, you are fully funded for the next 20 years. Our resources are nowhere near enough to achieve what everybody should want the world to do.”

In his interview, Gates cited that just one human disease has ever been fully eradicated from the earth—smallpox in 1980. With this type of funding and support over the next two decades, Gates believes the solutions to “probably four or five” other afflictions could have cures. The foundation has already made substantial progress on eliminating polio and malaria, while also reducing the number of deaths caused by tuberculosis and AIDS by approximately 90%.

The Gates Foundation has also made significant improvements to education and technology for American students with low-income backgrounds.

Founded in Seattle in 2000 by then-husband and wife Bill and Melinda Gates, the foundation is set to close in 2045. Initially, the foundation was supposed to exist for 25 years after Bill and Melinda’s deaths. Melinda French Gates stepped down as co-chair in 2024 and created her own foundation.

In total, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation stated it has paid $77.6 billion in grants since its inception, as of the end of 2023.

“I believe Bill is making an excellent decision,” Warren Buffett told Fortune in an email. “Bill is a ‘learner,’ and it shows in the evolution of the foundation. A good bit of his time involves travel for very long distances to work on very unglamorous projects that have the objective of changing the lives of hundreds of millions of people. Bill truly walks the walk.”

Buffett has been the Gates Foundation’s second-largest donor, donating more than $40 billion in total.

Gates’ motivations

Gates cited that he is worried about “drastic cutbacks” in foreign aid contributions from the U.S., other wealthy countries, and some of the foundation’s partners to poorer countries where the foundation operates.

In his second term, President Donald Trump’s administration shut down USAID, the agency that dispenses international aid, while simultaneously withdrawing from the World Health Organization. Other countries have followed suit. The U.K. has reduced its international assistance by 40%, France by 37%, and the Netherlands by 30%.

“Unless the rich countries stay generous,” Gates told Fortune, “the progress is going to stop—and may even go into reverse.”

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According to a financial results report released earlier this week, Microsoft spent approximately $1 billion less on AI in the first three months of 2025 than it did in the previous quarter. Still, Microsoft invested $21.4 billion into AI over the past three months.

Microsoft was on pace to spend more than $85 billion on AI during the current fiscal year, before slightly pulling back.

This is a departure from Microsoft’s practices when ChatGPT’s chatbot first dropped in 2022. According to , Microsoft pivoted to building AI data centers so aggressively, one industry analyst called it “the largest infrastructure build-out that humanity has ever seen.”

Demand for cloud and artificial intelligence still remains strong, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella confirmed on an investors call.

Microsoft’s first quarter results were strong across the board. Sales surpassed $70 billion, up 13% from the same period a year earlier, while profits rose to $25.8 billion, up 18%, according to The New York Times. Microsoft’s stock price increased more than 8% in after-hours trading.

A study by the (IPS) found that the “millionaire class” grew by 38.6% in Massachusetts despite a wealth take and 46.9% in Washington despite a capital gains tax. Their wealth grew by more than $580 billion in current dollars in Massachusetts and $748 billion in Washington state between 2022 and 2024.

This financial growth happened despite Washington having a capital gains tax while Massachusetts was operating under a progressive taxation on million-dollar incomes.

“Both Massachusetts and Washington serve as critical test studies on the actual impact of fairly taxing the rich,” IPS researcher Omar Ocampo said in a prepared statement. “Taxing high-income individuals at a higher rate is not disruptive and did not cause a mass exodus of millionaires.”

Washington saw more millionaires

According to the IPS study, Washington’s “millionaire class” expanded from 463,000 in 2022 to more than 681,000 by 2024. The number of residents with a net worth of over $50 million increased from 2,060 to 2,939, a 42.6% increase.

The capital gains tax raised $1.2 billion from 2022-2024.

“A wealth tax that targets ultra-high net worth individuals—those with $50 million or more—puts a minor constraint on their rate of accumulation, but has the potential to raise significant revenues that can be used to support broad healthcare, economic, and educational programs that benefit all state residents,” IPS stated.

What a ‘wealth tax’ could create in revenue if increased again

IPS even claimed that if the wealth tax increased by another 2% for individuals with a net worth of more than $50 million, it could generate $8.2 billion for the state. Similarly, it would hypothetically raise $7.4 billion in Massachusetts, $21.9 billion in New York, and $700 million in Rhode Island.

“This new analysis confirms that when the rich pay their fair share of taxes, we all benefit—including the wealthy,” Amber Wallin, the executive director of the State Revenue Alliance, said in a press release for IPS. “For years, we’ve had so-called experts claim that higher taxes will mean that wealthy people flee—it’s never been true, but these results show how wrong they were.”

This study comes after one of Washington’s most famous billionaires, Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder and executive chairman, moved from Washington to Indian Creek Village—an exclusive area in Miami, Florida. also known as “Billionaire Bunker,” famous for its celebrity residents including Tom Brady, Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner. He allegedly saved nearly $1 billion in just one year in taxes after calling Florida his primary residence instead of Washington.

Washington lawmakers just passed a massive $77.9 billion operating budget for the next two years, and it’s now on Governor Bob Ferguson’s desk to sign and pass. Ferguson previously warned the legislature he wouldn’t pass a budget plan that relies too much on taxes. The current budget proposal includes roughly $7 million in cuts and $9 million in new taxes.

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AT&T, the third-largest telecommunications company, occupied an approximate 73,000 square-foot space in the Redmond Town Center, located at 7277 164th Ave. NE.

It is unknown if AT&T plans to relocate locally, as of the reporting. łÉČËXŐľ Newsradio and MyNorthwest have reached out to AT&T for comment.

Simultaneously, according to the CBRE report, AT&T has shrunk its staff significantly over the last five years. Once contracting 247,800 employees in 2019, AT&T reduced its staff to 140,990 by 2024.

The departure of major companies from Seattle

This departure coincides with a lot of tech companies readjusting their workspaces. Google announced it was shuttering its four-building campus in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood last month, transitioning its employees to its South Lake Union offices, while Salesforce shrank its office space in Bellevue by roughly 20%.

Warner Bros. Discovery decided to move its Seattle-based staff to a smaller office in Bellevue. Disney renewed its Seattle lease, located within the Fourth & Madison Tower, earlier this year, but not without reducing the space needed from 170,000 square feet to 121,600—an approximate 28% reduction.

Last week, the streaming giant Netflix moved in the opposite direction, acquiring office space for its employees in the Madison Centre in Seattle.

According to The Puget Sound Business Journal, T-Mobile has let go of or offered to sublease entire buildings along the I-90 corridor near its Bellevue headquarters. Verizon took up T-Mobile’s offer, ditching a 71,000-square-foot office space in an Eastgate building for a 32,682-square-foot space it subleased from T-Mobile.

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The entertainment conglomerate renewed its lease, located within the Fourth & Madison Tower, earlier this year, but not without reducing the space needed from 170,000 square feet to 121,600—an approximate 28% reduction.

According to , the Seattle office is dedicated to the technology sector for the Disney Corporation. Disney has occupied office space in Seattle since 1998.

The departure of major companies from Seattle

This office shuffling coincides with a lot of tech companies readjusting their workspaces. Google announced it was shuttering its four-building campus in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood last month, transitioning its employees to its South Lake Union offices, while Salesforce shrank its office space in Bellevue by roughly 20%.

Warner Bros. Discovery decided to move its Seattle-based staff to a smaller office in Bellevue.

Last week, the streaming giant Netflix moved in the opposite direction, acquiring office space for its employees in the Madison Centre in Seattle.

MyNorthwest and łÉČËXŐľ Newsradio have reached out to Disney for comment.

That’s what a group of Western Washington business and industry leaders is claiming. Flanked by Washington U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, the group provided details on the impacts of the tariffs.

“Our brand is known for patented safe sleep products,” Jeff Damir, the COO of Seattle-based , told łÉČËXŐľ Newsradio.

Damir said most of what they sell is made in China (outside of a small line of “Made in USA” products) where they have long-standing relationships with factories. The products manufactured in China are now subject to the changing tariffs.

“Last month, we brought in a container—a container with a value of about $200,000—and we had to pay an extra $20,000 to bring that in,” he explained. “This month, we’re bringing in another container. That container will cost us an extra $40,000 because the China tariffs went from 10% to 20%.”

Now? Swaddle Designs has a container of products to be shipped to the U.S. currently sitting in China. That container would cost them $300,000 in extra tariffs alone, given the 145% tariff increase.

They’re keeping it in China, hoping the tariffs will come down.

Can companies pivot to making products locally in the U.S.?

As for manufacturing products here? Damir told łÉČËXŐľ Newsradio it’s not practical or cost-effective.

“There’s just no way that we could ever bring production back,” Damir said.

What about businesses that already make their products in the U.S. with home-grown ingredients?

“I buy most of my ingredients locally, and I haven’t thought that I would be all that impacted,” said Molly Neitzel, the CEO of , a small Seattle-based chain. “What I didn’t think about until my CFO came to me is spoons.”

Molly Moon’s buys compostable spoons from a manufacturer in China, but under the current tariffs?

“The current structure will cost us about $240,000 this year,” Neitzel said. “That’s almost half of my total anticipated profit for 2025.”

A fractured relationship with Canada

It’s not just U.S. tariffs on imports causing challenges. Chris Stone, the deputy director of the , which represents more than 1,000 family-owned wineries and 400-plus farmers, said the tariffs have drawn retaliation.

“The best example would be Canada, our No. 1 export market, which literally evaporated,” Stone said. “Disappeared overnight.”

In response to the U.S. tariffs, Canada has banned U.S. alcohol sales—a loss of $10-12 million in business. Washington U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell pointed out that she helped promote American wines in Canada.

“I want you to know that I helped get British Columbia to put more Washington wine on their shelves,” Cantwell said.

She and Republican Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley have introduced the Trade Review Act, which they said would return most of the control over tariffs to Congress.

President Trump insists his tariffs will boost manufacturing in the U.S., give the U.S. leverage to reduce tariffs that other countries place on American products they import, and force countries to stop fentanyl from entering the U.S.

Heather Bosch is an award-winning for łÉČËXŐľ Newsradio.

The increase reported Thursday in the means consumers and businesses that rely on eggs should not anticipate immediate relief. Demand for eggs is typically elevated until after Easter, which falls on April 20.

Industry experts were expecting the index to reflect a drop in retail egg prices because wholesale egg prices dropped significantly in March.

Bird flu outbreaks were cited as the major cause of price spikes in January and February after more than 30 million egg-laying chickens were killed to prevent the spread of the disease. Some farms that had fall outbreaks are resuming egg production after sanitizing their barns and raising new flocks.

Trump tried to take credit for the lower wholesale egg prices the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported in recent weeks. But experts say the president’s plan to fight bird flu by focusing on strengthening egg farmers’ defenses against the virus is likely to be more of a long-term help.

Since the current bird flu outbreak began, more than 168 million birds have been slaughtered, most of them egg-laying chickens. Any time a bird gets sick, the entire flock is killed to help keep bird flu from spreading. That can have an effect on the egg supply because massive egg farms may have millions of birds.

The disease is difficult to control because it is spread easily through the droppings of wild birds that carry the avian flu virus. Bird flu has also inflected other animals, including dairy cattle.

Earlier in the outbreak, egg prices spiked to hit $4.82 in January 2023 before gradually falling as low as $2.04 per dozen in August 2023. Generally, prices have since increased steadily.

F21 OpCo, which runs Forever 21 stores, said late Sunday that it will wind down the business in the U.S. under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while determining if it can continue as a business with a partner, or if it will sell some or all of its assets.

“While we have evaluated all options to best position the company for the future, we have been unable to find a sustainable path forward, given competition from foreign fast fashion companies, which have been able to take advantage of the de minimis exemption to undercut our brand on pricing and margin,” Chief Financial Officer Brad Sell said in a statement.

°Őłó±đĚý lets shipments headed to U.S. businesses and consumers valued at less than $800 to enter the country tax free and duty free.

Forever 21 stores in the U.S. will hold liquidation sales and the website will continue to run while operations wind down. The retailer’s locations outside of the U.S. are run by other licensees and are not included in the bankruptcy filing. International store locations and websites will continue operating as normal.

Authentic Brands Group owns the international intellectual property associated with the Forever 21 brand and may license the brand to other operators, F21OpCo said.

Jarrod Weber, Global President, Lifestyle at Authentic Brands Group, said the restructuring lets Forever 21 “accelerate the modernization of the brand’s distribution model, setting it up to compete and lead in fast fashion for decades to come. We’re building a direct creation-to-shelf model that moves faster.”

He added that, “We are receiving lots of interest from strong brand operators and digital experts who share our vision and are ready to take the brand to the next level.”

Forever 21 first filed for  in 2019. The following year, it was acquired by a  of parties including Authentic Brands Group and mall owners Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners. In early January, Forever 21’s parent company, Sparc Group, merged with JCPenney to form Catalyst Brands, a new entity that also includes brands like Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand, and Nautica.

Forever 21 joins a slew of other retailers that have filed for Chapter 11 or are liquidating in recent months as retailers face a slowdown in consumer spending and are navigating rising operating costs amid inflationary pressures. They include fabric and crafts retailer Ěý˛ą˛Ô»ĺĚý. In February, Outdoor apparel seller  which has operated stores for surfer and skater-inspired labels like Quiksilver, Billabong and Volcom, filed for bankruptcy — and said it plans to shutter its locations across the U.S.

From Jan. 1 through March 14, U.S. retailers have so far announced 3,735 store closures, according to Coresight Research’s weekly tracker.

Forever 21 had been battling a host of macroeconomic challenges as well as its own issues.

Forever 21 was founded in 1984 and, along with other fast-fashion chains like H&M and Zara, rode a wave of popularity among young customers in the mid-1990s. Their popularity grew during the Great Recession, when shoppers were seeking bargains. But Forever 21 went on an aggressive expansion just as shoppers were moving more online. Critics have said that Forever 21 was too slow to embraice online shopping.

The company also faced stiff competition from the likes of Shein and Temu, which churn out trendy items that are cheaper than what Forever 21 offers. For example, Forever 21 sells T-shirts for around $10. Temu has them for $5.

Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said in a statement that part of the problem now is that Forever 21’s stores are too big for its current needs and it’s in malls with not enough foot traffic.

“Forever 21 was always a retailer living on borrowed time. Over recent years it has been hit with dual headwinds from a weak apparel market and stiff competition from cheap Chinese marketplaces,” he said. “Both things have eroded its standing and depleted its market share.”

Here in Washington, the Weights and Measures program under the Department of Agriculture monitors that. Their job as inspectors is to check the accuracy, safety, and quality of each gas pump across the state.

Gas pumps are not their only task. They also check grocery store scales, highway weigh-stations, and any other commercial use scale in the state.

łÉČËXŐľ 7 found most gas stations in the Puget Sound area aren’t checked regularly due to a “shortage of pump inspectors,” according to Weights and Measures program manager, Tahis McQueen.

“Because we are short-staffed, we have not been able to make those inspections in that timely 18-month time frame,” McQueen said.

There are 1,055 gas stations across King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties. Those stations are supposed to be inspected every two years or less, per state law.

łÉČËXŐľ 7 requested the gas station inspection reports for 2023-2024. łÉČËXŐľ 7 received 75 reports.

Out of those 75 reports, 26 of them showed the pumps had an issue with useability and fill accuracy.

Summed up, only 7% of the county’s gas stations have been inspected in the past two years and 1/3 of the ones that have been inspected failed.

It’s easy to spot when a pump has been last inspected. Each pump at every station should have a sticker on it that has a hole-punched month and year.

łÉČËXŐľ 7 found many pumps across the three Puget Sound counties that had no sticker at all.

According to the reports, many stations have not been recently inspected. If the sticker date goes back more than a few years, it’s possible what’s on this screen doesn’t match what’s going into your tank. Pump errors are possible due to lack of accountability with few inspections happening.

Here in Western Washington, we know every penny matters when it comes to buying a full tank.

“If they’re above or below the zero marker, we have a tolerance of six cubic inches in either direction,” McQueen said.

Six cubic inches comes out to be a little less than half a cup of gas.

Reports show some pumps are giving up to two whole cups less than what the customer paid for.

At the same time, other gas stations are giving more gas than paid for.

Either way, what’s in your tank doesn’t match what’s coming out of your wallet.

75 stations were inspected from 2023-2024. 26 of them failed the test due to calibration accuracy requirements. Out of the 26, 14 stations were giving gas away, benefitting the consumer, while 12 of them were not giving people what they paid for.

McQueen told łÉČËXŐľ 7 the gas station operators are likely not doing this on purpose.

“It’s usually a problem with the actual meter it’s not tampering or anything like that,” McQueen said.

But on the chance your favorite gas station fails an inspection, there are checks and balances.

“If there’s a problem with the accuracy of the meter, they will write the station up telling them what the issue was as far as accuracy goes and give them 30 days to get that fixed,” McQueen said.

After that deadline, the state is then required to go back to that station and make sure the issue was resolved.

Below is a list of each gas station that was inspected from 2023-2024 in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. This information was given to łÉČËXŐľ 7 via a request to the Washington Weights and Measures Department. łÉČËXŐľ 7 asked them for all reports from those two years in those three counties.

If the gas station had an issue with a pump, the inspector flagged the problem and often issues the station a fine and a charge to fix the problem within a month. The statistics below represent inspection results from specific days in 2023-2024, they do not represent if the gas station currently has a calibration or system issue.

 Passed: Chevron, 11122 Steele Street S, Lakewood, WA, 98499

Passed: 76, 2601 N Stevens St, Tacoma, WA, 98407

Passed: Safeway, 11501 Canyon Rd E, Puyallup, WA, 98373

Passed: Chevron, 1772 S 72nd St, Tacoma, WA, 98408

Passed: Safeway, 2735 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA, 98407

Passed: Shell, 801 S Hill Park Dr, Puyallup, WA, 98373

Passed: 76, 8817 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA, 98444

Passed: ARCO, 401 Ellingson Rd, Pacific, WA, 98047

Passed: Chevron, 2626 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA, 98004

Passed: Shell, 24821 NE Redmond Fall City Rd, Redmond, WA, 98053

Passed: 7/11, 22422 83rd Ave, Kent, WA, 98032

Passed: Pacific Pride, 22429 SE 231 St, Maple Valley, WA, 98038

Passed: ARCO, 1537 Duvall Ave NE, Renton, WA, 98059

Passed: Chevron, 601 Stevens Pass Hwy, Sultan, WA, 98294

Passed: Chevron, 502 W Stanley St, Granite Falls, WA, 98252

Abnormal: Chevron, 19923 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA, 98188

Abnormal: Shell, 24821 NE Redmond Fall City Rd, Redmond, WA, 98053

Abnormal: ARCO, 13055 NE 70th Pl, Kirkland, WA, 98033

Abnormal: Garry’s on Pearl, 4601 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA, 98407

Abnormal: Chevron, 6701 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA, 98406

Abnormal: Fred Meyer, 33702 21st Ave SE, Federal Way, WA, 98023

Abnormal: 76, 719 91st Ave NE, Lake Stevens, WA, 98258

Abnormal: Shell, 6410 State Route 92, Lake Stevens, WA, 98258

Abnormal: Shell, 6410 State Route 92, Lake Stevens, WA, 98258

The latest monthly  showed a dozen Grade A eggs cost an average of $5.90 in U.S. cities in February, up 10.4% from a year ago. That eclipsed  of $4.95.

 has forced farmers to slaughter more than 166 million birds, mostly egg-laying chickens. Just since the start of the year, more than 30 million egg layers have been killed.

If prices remain high, it will be  consumers have faced sticker shock ahead of  on April 20 and , which starts on the evening of April 12, both occasions in which  prominent roles.

The price had consistently been below $2 a dozen for decades before the disease struck. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects egg prices to rise 41% this year over last year’s average of $3.17 per dozen.

Related on MyNorthwest: Here’s how to get $2 eggs in Seattle and Tacoma

Lower egg prices on the horizon

But there may be light at the end of the tunnel. The USDA reported last week that egg shortages are easing and wholesale prices are dropping, which might provide relief on the retail side before this year’s late Easter, which is three weeks later than last year. It said there had been no major bird flu outbreak for two weeks.

“Shoppers have begun to see shell egg offerings in the dairycase becoming more reliable although retail price levels have yet to adjust and remain off-putting to many,” the USDA wrote in the .

David Anderson, a professor and extension economist for livestock and food marketing at Texas A&M University, said wholesale figures dropping is a good sign that prices could go down as shoppers react to the high prices by buying fewer eggs.

“What that should tell us is things are easing a little bit in terms of prices,” he said. “So going forward, the next CPI report may very well indicate falling egg prices.”

However, he doesn’t expect lasting changes until bird stock can be replenished and production can be replaced.

“Record high prices is a market signal to producers to produce more, but it takes time to be able to produce more, and we just haven’t had enough time for that to happen yet,” he said. “But I do think it’s going to happen. But it’s going to take some more months to get there.”

Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, said wholesale prices dropping is good news, but noted that increased demand for Easter could drive a temporary increase in prices.

“In addition, egg farmers are closely watching spring migration of wild birds, recognizing that wild birds are a leading cause of the spread of this virus and pose a great and ongoing threat to egg-laying flocks,” she said.

Advocacy groups and others have  into whether egg producers have used the avian flu to price gouge. But egg producers say the avian flu is solely behind the elevated prices.

˛Ń±đ˛ą˛Ô·Éłóľ±±ô±đ,ĚýĚý˛ą˛Ô»ĺĚý to offset the cost of eggs.

°Őłó±đĚýĚýłó˛ą˛őĚý to combat bird flu, including a $500 million investment to help farmers bolster biosecurity measures, $400 million in additional aid for farmers whose flocks have been impacted by avian flu, and $100 million to research and potentially develop vaccines and therapeutics for U.S. chicken flocks, among other measures. But it will likely take a while for that plan to make an impact.

The S&P 500 fell 2.7%, bringing it nearly 9% below its all-time high from the previous month. At its lowest point, the index was down 3.6%, marking its worst single-day decline since 2022. That year, rising inflation fueled recession fears, though the economy ultimately avoided a downturn.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 890 points, or 2.1%, after recovering from an earlier loss of more than 1,100 points. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq composite slid 4%.

Although western Washington is on the other side of the country, locals are still watching what happens on Wall Street.

“My concern is that all of our retirement money is evaporating,” Lisa Kline said at Bellevue’s Downtown Park. “It’s a real big concern for all the Baby Boomers.”

“It affects my income in a way, long term,” said retired man Thaddeus Powell, of Bellevue. “If I can’t rely on the market, then I have to find something else to do. And, like I said, being (with a) disability, it’s pretty hard to get a job that way because I can’t work eight hours a day.”

Those issues came into sharp relief after the stock market had its worst day so far in 2025. Dropping nearly 1,200 points before rebounding slightly to end the day down nearly 900 points.

Dana Grigg, a Seattle-based investment advisor, said people should be concerned about a possible rocky road ahead.

“So, yes,” Grigg said. “The road could be rocky, but always remember, that’s why we get excess returns as investors because we’re willing to weather those storms.”

That seemed to be of little comfort here.

“I think we have, it is what it is, you know,” Bellevue man Scott Penner said. “I just wonder how long people are going to put up with it?”

It likely won’t be long before we begin to get those answers.

The stock market opens for business again Tuesday morning.

The People’s Union USA calls the 24 hours of spending abstinence set to start at midnight an “economic blackout,” a term that has since been shared and debated on social media. The activist movement said it also plans to promote weeklong consumer boycotts of particular companies, including  and Amazon.

Other activists, faith-based leaders and consumers already are organizing boycotts  that have scaled back their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and to oppose President Donald Trump’s moves to . Some faith leaders are encouraging their congregations to refrain from , one of the companies backing off DEI efforts, during the 40 days of Lent that begin Wednesday.

Here are some details about the various events and experts’ thoughts on whether having consumers keep their wallets closed is an effective tool for influencing the positions corporations take.

Who’s behind the ’24-hour Economic Blackout?’

The People’s Union USA, which takes credit for initiating the no-spend day, was founded by John Schwarz, a meditation teacher who lives near the Chicago area, according to his social media accounts.

The organization’s website said it’s not tied to a political party but stands for all people. Requests for comment sent to the group’s email address this week did not receive a reply.

The planned blackout is scheduled to run from 12 a.m. EST through 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday. The activist group advised customers to abstain from making any purchases, whether in store or online, but particularly not from big retailers or chains. It wants participants to avoid fast food and filling their car gas tanks, and says shoppers with emergencies or in need of essentials should support a local small business and try not to use a credit or debit card.

People’s Union plans another broad-based economic blackout on March 28, but it’s also organizing boycotts targeting specific retailers — Walmart and Amazon — as well as global food giants Nestle and General Mills. For the boycott against Amazon, the organization is encouraging people to refrain from buying anything from Whole Foods, which the e-commerce company owns.

What other boycotts are being planned?

There are a number of boycotts being planned, particularly aimed at Target. The discounter, which has backed diversity and inclusion efforts aimed at uplifting Black and LGBTQ+ people in the past, announced in January 

A labor advocacy group called We Are Somebody, led by Nina Turner, launched a boycott of Target on February 1 to coincide with Black History Month.

Meanwhile, an Atlanta-area pastor, the Rev. Jamal Bryant, organized a website called targetfast.org to recruit Christians for a 40-day Target boycott starting March 5, which marks Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Other faith leaders have endorsed the protest.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network, a civil rights organization, announced in late January it would identify two companies in the next 90 days that will be boycotted for abandoning their diversity, equity and inclusion pledges. The organization formed a commission to identify potential candidates.

“Donald Trump can cut federal DEI programs to the bone, he can claw back federal money to expand diversity, but he cannot tell us what grocery store we shop at,” Sharpton said in a statement posted on the National Action Network’s website.

Will the events have any impact?

Some retailers may feel a slight pinch from Friday’s broad “blackout,” which is taking place in a tough economic environment, experts said. Renewed inflation worries and Trump’s threat of tariffs on imported goods already have had an effect on .

“The (market share) pie is just so big,” Marshal Cohen, chief retail advisor at market research firm Circana, said. “You can’t afford to have your slices get smaller. Consumers are spending more money on food. And that means there’s more pressure on general merchandise or discretionary products.”

Still, Cohen thinks the overall impact may be limited, with any meaningful sales declines more likely to surface in liberal-leaning coastal regions and big cities.

Anna Tuchman, a marketing professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, said she thinks the economic blackout will likely make a dent in daily retail sales but won’t be sustainable.

“I think this is an opportunity for consumers to show that they have a voice on a single day,” she said. “I think it’s unlikely that we would see long-run sustained decreases in economic activity supported by this boycott.”

Other boycotts have produced different results.

Target saw a drop in sales in the spring and summer quarter of 2023 that the discounter attributed in part to customer  honoring LGBTQ+ communities for Pride Month. As a result, Target  merchandise in all of its stores the following year.

Tuchman studied the impact of a  during the summer of 2020 after the company’s CEO praised Trump. But her study, based on sales from research firm Numerator, found the brand  driven by first-time Goya buyers who were disproportionately from heavily Republican areas.

However, the revenue bump proved temporary; Goya had no detectable sales increase after three weeks, Tuchman said.

It was a different story for , which spent decades as America’s bestselling beer. Sales plummeted in 2023 after the brand sent a commemorative can to a transgender influencer. Bud Light’s sales still haven’t fully recovered, according to alcohol consulting company Bump Williams.

Tuchman thinks a reason is because there were plenty of other beers that the brand’s mostly conservative customer base could buy to replace Bud Light.

Afya Evans, a political and image consultant in Atlanta, said she would make a point of shopping on Friday but will focus on small businesses and Black-owned brands.

Evans is aware of other boycotts but she said she liked this one because she believes it could have some effect on sales.

“It’s a broader thing,” she said. “We want to see what the impact is. Let everybody participate. And plan from there.”

The Associated Press Business Writer Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit contributed to this report

The Seattle-based travel giant cited cutting costs as the reason for this decision. Expedia Group includes brands such as vrbo, Orbitz, Hotwire, Trivago and Hotels.com in addition to Expedia.com.

Related on MyNorthwest: Starbucks layoffs could signal trouble brewing for the economy

“To ensure the best traveler experience, we must continually adapt to the evolving needs of our industry and travelers,” a company spokesperson told in a prepared statement. “This requires difficult but necessary decisions such as refining our marketing strategies, improving efficiencies, and reallocating resources to areas with the greatest business impact to drive customer engagement.”

Expedia’s layoffs come after successful year

Despite Expedia having an approximate 10% revenue growth last quarter and an adjusted net income that increased 30% year-over-year — both figures beating analyst expectations — the company is condensing its workforce down from 16,500 employees. The company’s stock is up nearly 50% over the past 12 months, according to GeekWire.

“We were disciplined in our cost management in 2024, and that allowed us to expand profit margins while reinvesting in strategic areas,” Expedia CEO Ariane Gorin said. “We believe we still have room to deliver further efficiencies across our variable costs and fixed cost base to expand our margins even further.”

Expedia cut 1,500 jobs last year.

Starbucks confirmed with that his package included around $90 million in stock awards, a $5 million signing bonus, and buyouts from his former company, Chipotle.

This comes after Starbucks workers across the nation went on strike demanding better pay.

According to filings cited by the Wall Street Journal, Niccol also received nearly $62,000 in salary.

In addition to his package, Niccol uses a company-owned jet to fly from his home in Newport, California to Seattle where Starbucks has also agreed to cover temporary housing costs.

Starbucks confirmed with łÉČËXŐľ 7 News that Starbucks had paid more than $143,000 in housing expenses, about half of which were tax-related payments. Niccol also spent about $72,000 flying between his home in southern California and Seattle, and about $19,000 related to other personal use of company aircraft.

During his tenure as CEO of Chipotle, Niccol received an annual compensation package of around $33 million for several years as the stock rose more than 700%.

Starbucks’ stock climbed seven percent since Niccol began in September.

Under Niccol’s leadership, the coffeehouse giant is revamping its operations to address declining sales and shifting consumer habits.

Starbucks rolled out familiar changes Monday to enhance the in-store experience, including bringing back condiment bars after they were taken away during the COVID-19 pandemic and baristas will return to hand-writing customers’ names on their cups using Sharpies.

Bathrooms will only be allowed for customers, while the company will offer ceramic mugs for dine-in customers and free water cups.

“He did a great job at Chipotle. The stock went up 770% over a period in just a few years, and he deserved to make that money,” Thomas Fellows, who runs Commence AI, which helps companies use artificial intelligence to analyze efficiency, said. “It’s very unfair to your average worker (Starbucks) because he’s getting paid more than 6,000 percent more than the average worker and he hasn’t proven that he has turned around the company.”

“It’s OK for a CEO or an executive to make eight figures. Brian Niccol is making $96 million, but you got to earn it,” he added after sharing his company’s report on Starbucks’ performance and Niccol’s pay package.

łÉČËXŐľ 7 spoke with Mari Cosgrove, union leader, who has been with Starbucks for 11 years.

“He’s not making the company profit, I am. Me and my coworkers are. Baristas nationwide are producing the goods that people want to buy,” she said. “We’re often making really customized drinks to make sure people not only leave happy but want to come back repeatedly.”

The barista said many workers felt unvalued after learning about Niccol’s compensation package following a nationwide strike where workers demanded better pay.

“It’s really frustrating, especially when the majority workers, we’re paid so little,” Cosgrove said. “Our options are public transit or walking to work.”

The veteran Starbucks worker said the pay package will not address the company’s root issues.

“I have equipment at my job that breaks down regularly. That’s what leading to our problems, fixing that, but that money, instead, is going to a CEO,” she added. “It’s not going to fix the issues that we see on a day-to-day basis.”

łÉČËXŐľ 7 reached out to Starbucks for a statement. While the outlet did not get an official response as of Monday afternoon, a spokesperson said that Niccol was a highly sought-after leader with a proven track record with experiences to drive the chain’s growth.

In addition to these changes, Starbucks is implementing a to ensure a comfortable and safe environment for both customers and employees. This code of conduct will be prominently displayed in stores and emphasizes the importance of respectful behavior and the proper use of Starbucks spaces, including cafés, patios, and restrooms. The guidelines prohibit misuse or disruption of spaces, discrimination, harassment, violence, abusive language, outside alcohol consumption, smoking, vaping, drug use, and panhandling. Customers who do not adhere to these rules may be asked to leave, and law enforcement may be involved if necessary.

Costco’s big beverage swap: Coke is returning to store food courts

Brian Niccol, chairman and chief executive officer of Starbucks, commented on the company’s strategic shift in a statement on its website: “It is clear we need to fundamentally change our strategy to win back customers. ‘Back to Starbucks’ is that fundamental change. My experience tells me that when we get back to our core identity and consistently deliver a great experience, our customers will come back. We have a clear plan and are moving quickly to return Starbucks to growth.”

Rachel Ruggeri, chief financial officer, also expressed confidence in the company’s future: “As shared in our Press Release last week, our results do not reflect the strength of our brand. I have seen what Starbucks is capable of when we focus on what we do best. I have confidence in our ability to turn around our business and expect we will return to long-term growth.”

writes: “It’s an understatement to say Starbucks has been struggling mightily. The economy, and particularly the consumer, have held up relatively well in the past year, despite a constant feeling of uncertainty. However, Starbucks hasn’t seen such positive results.”

Last quarter, the business reported a  decline in same-store sales, with notable drops in its two key markets, the U.S. and China. This was the third straight quarter that same-store sales showed a year-over-year decrease.

The new initiatives have been implemented in hopes of turning things around.

Bill Kaczaraba is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here. Follow Bill on X, formerly known as Twitter, and email him here.

Costco President and CEO Ron Vachris briefly confirmed the major change during the Q&A portion of the company’s Thursday. (The question was answered at the 44:24 mark of the presentation.)

“Is the food court truly switching back to Coke products?” one person asked.

“Yes, that is accurate,” Vachris said in response. “This summer, we will be converting our food court fountain business back over to Coca-Cola.”

That means Coca-Cola Classic, Diet Coke and Sprite will soon be available at the fountains instead of Pepsi, Diet Pepsi and Starry.

The confirmation comes after , which often publishes online articles about deals and coupons before Costco does and bills itself as “the No. 1 website on the internet about Costco,” the change was coming. In its coverage, also cited in December alerting people to the change.

the deal not only includes the machines and syrup in the sodas, but cups, straws and other products as well.

Costco roundup: Some item prices lowered, more stores coming, big sub for sale

Costco leaves Pepsi after more than a decade

After serving Coke products for decades in its food courts, Costco switched to Pepsi in 2013, as multiple stated.

“It’s a big shift,” then-Costco Vice President of Food Services Alan Bubitz . “They’re the only vendor we’ve ever had for the majority of the business locations.”

Bubitz expected pushback to the change to Pepsi from Coke at the time. But he also told BevNET at that time the change from Coke to Pepsi was being made in an attempt to preserve the iconic deal where customers can get a 22-ounce cup of soda and a hot dog for $1.50.

“You’re not going to be able to please everybody,” to the specialty media outlet. “It’s our job to preserve the integrity of the price point.”

Customers wait in line to order below signage for the Costco Kirkland Signature $1.50 hot dog and soda combo. (Photo: Patrick T. Fallon, Getty Images)

So, will a hot dog and a Coke still cost $1.50 at Costco?

Costco most recently confirmed last May via Executive Vice President and CFO Gary Millerchip in an earnings call the price of the combo will remain the same.

“To clear up some recent media speculation, I also want to confirm the $1.50 hot dog price is safe,” .

Costco is keeping the price of that combo the same despite inflation impacting the wholesale retailer’s cost to produce it.

Business news: Costco successfully defends its diversity policies as other US companies scale theirs back

last year that if Costco’s kept pace with inflation, the famous hot dog deal would be three times as expensive as it was in 1985 when the company first set the price — nearly $4.50.

Talking about the deal in 2009 with , Costco founder and then-CEO Jim Sinegal was asked what it meant if the company increased the price of that deal.

“That I’m dead,” Sinegal responded.

When asked why it was so significant, Sinegal to the Times that even then — more than 15 years ago — people brought up how great the deal is.

“Because everybody talks about it,” Sinegal said. “People look at that hot dog and say a buck fifty, this is unbelievable. It’s the same thing you’d spend $7 or $8 at the ballpark for and not get the same quality dog. It’s one of the things that we’re known for.”

The Costco shareholders call Thursday where the change to Coke was announced didn’t reveal any more information about the price of the hot dog deal, but the company did reveal it sold in the 2024 fiscal year.

Steve Coogan is the lead editor of MyNorthwest. You can read more of his stories here. Follow Steve on , or email him here.

Mary Beth Laughton, a former REI Board Director, will join REI as president on Feb. 3 before assuming full CEO responsibilities by March 31.

“Eric has led and stabilized REI through some of the most challenging years the retail sector and our co-op ever faced,” Chris Carr, Chair of the REI Board of Directors, said in the announcement. “REI is in a strong position today because he always kept our purpose, values and people as his north star.

More on REI: REI cuts dozens of people, popular programs to cure money woes

“Mary Beth has the ideal experience to build on this foundation and to lead REI forward into our next chapter,” Carr continued. “The world needs a strong REI, and we are confident Mary Beth will hit the ground running.”

In addition to being a former REI board director, Laughton also served as a board member for Instacart and previously led Nike Global Direct to Consumer Sales. She has also held leadership roles with Athleta, Impossible Foods and Sephora.

Artz had been with REI for 12 years, including six as its president and CEO, guiding the company through the  COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have accomplished more together in these 12 years than I ever imagined, at times making our way through the unimaginable, and confronting many tough choices together,” Artz stated in a letter to the company. “While there is never a good moment to step away from an organization you love, we have positive momentum in the business and are in a much better position.”

This announcement comes on the heels of the outdoor retailer REI laying off 180 full-time and 248 part-time employees, including 67 in Washington. REI’s “Experiences” division, which includes outdoor classes, events and tours, also folded as it was deemed unprofitable.

Seattle-area layoffs: Microsoft, REI start 2024 with workforce reductions

Despite the announcement, the company saw financial growth in December, meaning REI was close to breaking even financially in 2024. REI lost $311 million in 2023.

“Serving you and this enduring organization has been the honor of my professional life,” Artz continued in his letter. “Being outside means something different for everyone and our job is not to tell people what that looks like. It is to show one another and to welcome others, always making time outside more accessible to more people in more ways. That is worth fighting for.”

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest and producer of the Seattle Seahawks podcast, . You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

The Utility and Transportation Commission (UTC) approved new rate hikes, which will take effect over the next two years, citing the raised prices support state laws focused on transitioning to clean energy.

More local utilities rising in price: Tacoma Public Utilities rates to go up for the next 2 years

UTC is a state-operated agency that regulates private, investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities in Washington.

“A typical residential electric customer using 800 kWh of energy per month can expect an increase of $13.08, or 12% in 2025 for an average monthly bill of $122.16,” UTC stated in a prepared release. “An additional $7.67, or 6.3% monthly increase, is expected in 2026, resulting in an average monthly bill of $129.83.”

Typical gas customers, someone using approximately 64 therms per month, should expect to see a monthly increase of $7.50 this year (9.4%), with another $1.65 increase (1.9%) in 2026.

While UTC approved the rate increases, the commission rejected the company’s request to include projects involving alternative fuels, such as renewable natural gas and hydrogen, in the rate structure.

“The commission’s decision supports state laws focused on transitioning to clean energy while ensuring fairness for customers and encouraging utilities to consider their impact on low-income households,” UTC’s statement continued. “The commission also authorized PSE to start recovering a return on specific purchase power agreements.”

More on PSE: Puget Sound Energy customers now paying more as rate hike takes effect

According to UTC, this is the first time the commission has allowed a return on these agreements under the Clean Energy Transformation Act.

PSE, based in Bellevue, provides electric service to more than 1.2 million customers across eight Washington counties. Its natural gas service is used by more than 900,000 customers in six Washington counties.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest and producer of the Seattle Seahawks podcast, . You can read his stories here and you can email him here.