Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Northwest’s largest minority is gaining ground when it comes to total spending in the regional economy.

Northwest Hispanics are also building economic clout more rapidly than Latinos across the nation. Correspondent Doug Nadvornick reports.

Researchers from the University of Georgia checked government census and economic figures.

They found that overall spending by Washington, Oregon and Idaho Hispanics has more than doubled this decade. That’s a faster rate of growth than for the non-Hispanic population.

The study’s author, Dr. Jeff Humphreys, says in Idaho and Oregon, Hispanics have become the minority group with the most buying power.

The researcher attributes their fast-growing economic clout to entrepreneurial spirit.

Jeff Humphreys: “That’s also a characteristic of the Asian group and the African-American group. All three of those groups are starting new businesses at a very rapid clip and that is contributing to the gains in buying power.”

Humphreys believes the recession may hit ethnic groups a little harder than whites. He says they could lose a little of that buying power for a year or two. But, long-term, he expects the trend of non-whites gaining in economic clout to continue.

Online:

http://www.terry.uga.edu/selig/buying_power.html