Daniel Molina, right, and Efren Garcia work on cutting a board for the ceiling of a home build on Vine Maple Street Southeast on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
In March, more houses sold for more money in Salem and Keizer. Fewer people are staying on unemployment benefits and more help-wanted ads are being placed online. The average hourly wage dropped, but Salem saw more businesses register. Salem area residents are playing more video poker. The city of Salem is issuing more building permits.
Home sales (lots under a half acre) – Salem/Keizer
March 2021: 273
March 2020: 278
February 2021: 195
January 2021: 173
Median price:
March 2021: $375,000
March 2020: $321,250
Source: Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service
Continuing claims for unemployment
Marion County
March: 3,054
February: 4,218
January: 4,730 (revised)
December: 3,909
April 2020: 12,948
January 2020: 2,268
Polk County
March: 712
February: 931
January: 1,034 (revised)
December: 828
April 2020: 2,925
January: 502
Source: Oregon Employment Department
Salem area average hourly earning
March 2021: $23.84
February 2021: $24.23
March 2020: $23.17
February 2020: $22.86
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
A chart showing online ads in the Salem area for March. (Courtesy/Oregon Employment Department)
Salem area help wanted ads online
March: 8,750
February: 7,890
Statewide area help wanted ads online
March: 91,800
February: 80,400
Source: The Conference Board via Oregon Employment Department
Video lottery sales
Marion County
March: $11.8 million
February: $5.8 million
January: $212,084 (lottery locations limited)
Polk County
March: $1.3 million
February: $606,615
January: $27,453 (lottery locations limited)
Source: Oregon Lottery
Salem new business registrations
March: 766
February: 614
January: 582
March 2020: 457
Source: Oregon Secretary of State
Salem building permits
New single-family dwellings
January: 25
February: 59
Total value: $17.9 million
February 2020: 41
Total value: $11.9 million
New multi-family dwelling units
January: 0
Total value: $0
February: 246
Total value: $25.7 million
February 2020: 0
Total value: $0
New commercial/industrial permits
January: 7
Total value: $12.7 million
February: 13
Total value: $8.9 million
February 2020: 6
Total value: $14.1 million
Source: city of Salem
Contact reporter Jake Thomas at 503-575-1251 or [email protected] or @jakethomas2009.
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