WaPo Data show D.C. area is feeling toll of federal spending cuts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uh, ya think?

Yeah, but now there's actual data show it's affecting everything...

Washingtonians are spending less
Consumer spending in D.C. is also starting to slip. Washingtonians are cutting back on things like dining out, clothing, and beauty products — and they’re doing so more sharply than people in other big cities. In June, spending at full-service restaurants was down 9 percent compared with the prior year, a steeper drop than in places like Atlanta, Boston and Miami.

The same pattern shows up in categories like apparel and entertainment, pointing to a local slowdown even as spending elsewhere holds steadier.

Housing construction is slowing
Predictably, with uncertainty looming, the real estate picture is starting to shift.

“We still have a shortage, meaning there is more demand for housing than supply,” Lee said. “And with that, the prices go up.”

But inventory is climbing, a sign that fewer buyers are competing for homes. At the same time, new apartment construction is tapping the brakes — about 8,000 units went up in the first quarter of 2025, well below the usual 12,000 to 16,000 seen in recent quarters.

Good. Most restaurants and homes in the DMV area are so overpriced to begin with. Most of the cut federal jobs weren’t necessary to begin with.

What do you do for a living?

Business owner. Federal contractor to DoD. And business is really good.

Got it. So government money good for you, but not for others.

Nope. I actually have to perform and deliver results and compete unlike many govt workers who just have to have a pulse. I can be let go at any time unlike many govt employees who think they have job protection in perpetuity. I could fire a quarter of the workers in that 5-sided building and it wouldn’t make a difference to our military members /warfighters.

So why didn’t DOGE do that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uh, ya think?

Yeah, but now there's actual data show it's affecting everything...

Washingtonians are spending less
Consumer spending in D.C. is also starting to slip. Washingtonians are cutting back on things like dining out, clothing, and beauty products — and they’re doing so more sharply than people in other big cities. In June, spending at full-service restaurants was down 9 percent compared with the prior year, a steeper drop than in places like Atlanta, Boston and Miami.

The same pattern shows up in categories like apparel and entertainment, pointing to a local slowdown even as spending elsewhere holds steadier.

Housing construction is slowing
Predictably, with uncertainty looming, the real estate picture is starting to shift.

“We still have a shortage, meaning there is more demand for housing than supply,” Lee said. “And with that, the prices go up.”

But inventory is climbing, a sign that fewer buyers are competing for homes. At the same time, new apartment construction is tapping the brakes — about 8,000 units went up in the first quarter of 2025, well below the usual 12,000 to 16,000 seen in recent quarters.

Good. Most restaurants and homes in the DMV area are so overpriced to begin with. Most of the cut federal jobs weren’t necessary to begin with.

What do you do for a living?

Business owner. Federal contractor to DoD. And business is really good.

Got it. So government money good for you, but not for others.

Nope. I actually have to perform and deliver results and compete unlike many govt workers who just have to have a pulse. I can be let go at any time unlike many govt employees who think they have job protection in perpetuity. I could fire a quarter of the workers in that 5-sided building and it wouldn’t make a difference to our military members /warfighters.

So why didn’t DOGE do that?

DOGE is still working. They went after the easy low-hanging fruit first. And there certainly is a lot of that. What part of $37 Trillion debt do you not understand? Both irresponsible Dems and Republicans are to blame over the last few decades. You’re not going to tax your way out of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uh, ya think?

Yeah, but now there's actual data show it's affecting everything...

Washingtonians are spending less
Consumer spending in D.C. is also starting to slip. Washingtonians are cutting back on things like dining out, clothing, and beauty products — and they’re doing so more sharply than people in other big cities. In June, spending at full-service restaurants was down 9 percent compared with the prior year, a steeper drop than in places like Atlanta, Boston and Miami.

The same pattern shows up in categories like apparel and entertainment, pointing to a local slowdown even as spending elsewhere holds steadier.

Housing construction is slowing
Predictably, with uncertainty looming, the real estate picture is starting to shift.

“We still have a shortage, meaning there is more demand for housing than supply,” Lee said. “And with that, the prices go up.”

But inventory is climbing, a sign that fewer buyers are competing for homes. At the same time, new apartment construction is tapping the brakes — about 8,000 units went up in the first quarter of 2025, well below the usual 12,000 to 16,000 seen in recent quarters.

Good. Most restaurants and homes in the DMV area are so overpriced to begin with. Most of the cut federal jobs weren’t necessary to begin with.

What do you do for a living?

Business owner. Federal contractor to DoD. And business is really good.

Got it. So government money good for you, but not for others.

Nope. I actually have to perform and deliver results and compete unlike many govt workers who just have to have a pulse. I can be let go at any time unlike many govt employees who think they have job protection in perpetuity. I could fire a quarter of the workers in that 5-sided building and it wouldn’t make a difference to our military members /warfighters.

So why didn’t DOGE do that?

DOGE is still working. They went after the easy low-hanging fruit first. And there certainly is a lot of that. What part of $37 Trillion debt do you not understand? Both irresponsible Dems and Republicans are to blame over the last few decades. You’re not going to tax your way out of this.

Ok, we’ll let me know when they’ve laid off a quarter of the Pentagon and let’s see how much the needle’s moved on that debt. In the meantime, glad you’re getting yours. You’re a real inspiration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uh, ya think?

Yeah, but now there's actual data show it's affecting everything...

Washingtonians are spending less
Consumer spending in D.C. is also starting to slip. Washingtonians are cutting back on things like dining out, clothing, and beauty products — and they’re doing so more sharply than people in other big cities. In June, spending at full-service restaurants was down 9 percent compared with the prior year, a steeper drop than in places like Atlanta, Boston and Miami.

The same pattern shows up in categories like apparel and entertainment, pointing to a local slowdown even as spending elsewhere holds steadier.

Housing construction is slowing
Predictably, with uncertainty looming, the real estate picture is starting to shift.

“We still have a shortage, meaning there is more demand for housing than supply,” Lee said. “And with that, the prices go up.”

But inventory is climbing, a sign that fewer buyers are competing for homes. At the same time, new apartment construction is tapping the brakes — about 8,000 units went up in the first quarter of 2025, well below the usual 12,000 to 16,000 seen in recent quarters.

Good. Most restaurants and homes in the DMV area are so overpriced to begin with. Most of the cut federal jobs weren’t necessary to begin with.

What do you do for a living?

Business owner. Federal contractor to DoD. And business is really good.

Got it. So government money good for you, but not for others.

Nope. I actually have to perform and deliver results and compete unlike many govt workers who just have to have a pulse. I can be let go at any time unlike many govt employees who think they have job protection in perpetuity. I could fire a quarter of the workers in that 5-sided building and it wouldn’t make a difference to our military members /warfighters.

So why didn’t DOGE do that?

DOGE is still working. They went after the easy low-hanging fruit first. And there certainly is a lot of that. What part of $37 Trillion debt do you not understand? Both irresponsible Dems and Republicans are to blame over the last few decades. You’re not going to tax your way out of this.

Ok, we’ll let me know when they’ve laid off a quarter of the Pentagon and let’s see how much the needle’s moved on that debt. In the meantime, glad you’re getting yours. You’re a real inspiration.

What can I say. I’m an entrepreneur. I took the risk and now I’m reaping the reward. You could do the same but that would mean the possibility of failure. That’s the beauty of capitalism. Make it work for you.