Washington's economy is growing in a sea of economic uncertainty. New figures suggest the Evergreen State could outpace the rest of the country when it comes to economic growth this year.
The projection comes from the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis. It shows Washington's economy expanding by as much as 4.5 percent in 2026, a pace that tops 46 other states and runs at more than double the national average of about 2.1 percent.
The engine behind those numbers is technology. According to reporting in the Seattle Times, huge investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure are driving the state's outsized growth.
Two of the region's biggest names are leading the way. Seattle-based Amazon and Microsoft are investing close to 400 million dollars into AI development alone, fueling demand for data centers, equipment and skilled workers.
That kind of spending ripples outward. Building and running AI infrastructure draws in construction, power and a range of supporting industries, helping to lift the broader state economy along with it.
The strength is notable given the national backdrop. While Washington is projected to accelerate, much of the rest of the country faces a far more uncertain economic picture heading into the coming year.
The key question now is durability. Because so much of the growth is tied to a single, fast-moving sector, analysts will be watching whether the AI-driven momentum can hold up over the longer term.