Is Bend still growing? Economic outlook with State Economist, Damon Rundberg

While it might be hard to believe, Bend's population growth has noticeably slowed over the past two years, with last year's increase falling to just under 1%. This marks one of the slowest growth rates Bend has seen since 2010-2012, a stark contrast to the rapid expansion of the previous five years. While this deceleration may be alarming to some, it's important to note that many communities in Oregon would welcome an annual population growth rate of around 1%. So why is Bend, a city that seems to be thriving, experiencing this slowdown? Taking a step back and understanding a bit more about Bend's history of decelerated and accelerated growth might offer some clarity. We were thrilled to sit down with Damon Runberg, Chief Economist for Business Oregon, who explores with Brian the potential reasons behind this new trend and offers his insights into what the future may hold for Bend.