Alaska Economic Report

Alaska Morning News: June 19, 2025 7am

If you got a tattoo in Anchorage a few decades ago, you likely visited a male owned shop. But that’s changing. Now, female tattoo artists are easy to find in the state’s largest city.

From a decline in advanced bookings to low sales, businesses are bracing for a disappointing summer that “could have been great.”

To keep schools running smoothly, many districts are looking abroad — namely to the Philippines.

The company’s goal is in line with President Trump’s attempt to bring manufacturing back to America. But the White House is also freezing and cutting key federal grants.

Alaska Morning News: May 15, 2025 Econ

Trump's day-one executive order called for expanded Alaska drilling, but his simultaneous push for lower oil prices has industry experts concerned.

Entrepreneurs say the uncertainty they’re facing is potentially just as damaging as the costly tariffs.

For quilters on the Kenai Peninsula, there aren’t many other local options to turn to.

For Adam Kaufman and Liam Cuddy the path to charitable giving started at a young age. They hope by getting more youth involved, it’ll bolster the philanthropy scene when they’re adults.

Mount Spurr's recent elevation to advisory status has Southcentral Alaska businesses shifting into preparation mode.

Supporters are disappointed in the assembly vote but aren’t giving up. They will continue the conversation with the Anchorage Assembly after the municipal election April 1.

Pacific Kelp Co. is working with two university researchers to study the benefits of their kelp extract as fertilizer. If it works, the company hopes it will drive up demand for Alaska products.

For decades, the Bering Sea herring fishery has provided bait fish for crabbers.

The plan would allow skilled trail workers to continue their work this summer, after half of the U.S. Forest Service trail crews were fired last month by the Trump administration.

Students practiced tying nautical knots and did team building exercises. While next door in the renewable energy workshop, students wielded thermal imaging cameras.

In recent years, the U.S. market for tinned seafood has surged by billions of dollars and boutique branded cans of fish are trending on TikTok. At the head of this swell is a small cannery on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska.

The state of the egg-conomy is forcing Anchorage eateries to raise prices and rethink recipes. It has also increased the demand for local farm fresh eggs.

Businesses that depend on snow in Anchorage are slimming their workforce and relying on other services to get by this winter.

A small but growing number of farmers in Alaska have taken to an unconventional way of growing greens and herbs – by doing it indoors.

Earlier this month, Alaska's minimum wage went up by $0.18 per hour. It'll rise again in July after voters passed Ballot Measure 1 last November.

Last April, President Biden signed a law that allows the government to ban foreign-owned apps that threaten national security. If TikTok isn’t sold by Sunday, it faces a nationwide ban.

Oil prices are down, and that means there's less money for lawmakers to spend during the upcoming 34th Alaska Legislature.

How low can you go - really?

Finding affordable housing in Anchorage is a challenge, and housing experts are looking for solutions. One idea is making it easier for people to live in multigenerational homes.