Bartell Drugs is a Pacific Northwest icon. But its corporate owner, Rite Aid, is going belly-up — and that’s put the future of Bartell’s in jeopardy.  

On today's episode, staying alive is not just a problem for Seattle’s oldest brick and mortar pharmacy. CVS, Walgreens, and independent pharmacies everywhere are struggling to stay afloat. So, what’s making pharmacies sick — and is there a cure? 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes. 

Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg.

Bartell Drugs is a Pacific Northwest icon. But its corporate owner, Rite Aid, is going belly-up &mdash; and that&rsquo;s put the future of Bartell&rsquo;s in jeopardy.&nbsp;&nbsp;
On today's episode, staying alive is not just a problem for Seattle&rsquo;s oldest brick and mortar pharmacy. CVS, Walgreens, and independent pharmacies everywhere are struggling to stay afloat. So, what&rsquo;s making pharmacies sick &mdash; and is there a cure?&nbsp;
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/donate/booming">kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes.</a>&nbsp;
Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/carol-smith">Carol Smith</a>. Our producers are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/lucy-soucek">Lucy Soucek</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/joshua-mcnichols">Joshua McNichols</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/monica-nickelsburg">Monica Nickelsburg</a>.

Booming is a weekly podcast about the economic forces shaping our lives here in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle area's been home to many booms over the years. It’s brought jobs, people, and wealth to the region, but also real growing pains that people here feel every day. In Booming, KUOW economy reporters Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg help listeners make sense of our ever-changing economy. We'll dig into what people are seeing or feeling and unpack the story behind it.

Booming is a weekly podcast about the economic forces shaping our lives here in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle area's been home to many booms over the years. It&rsquo;s brought jobs, people, and wealth to the region, but also real growing pains that people here feel every day. In&nbsp;Booming, KUOW economy reporters Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg help listeners make sense of our ever-changing economy. We'll dig into what people are seeing or feeling and unpack the story behind it.

Booming

Bartell Drugs, CVS, Walgreens, and independent pharmacies everywhere are struggling to stay afloat. So what’s making pharmacies sick... and is there a cure? 

Pharmacies are sick. Is there a cure?

We all know the cost of living is really high in Seattle. Whether it's housing or groceries, this town is a tough place to make ends meet. 

But just how expensive is Seattle compared to other cities?

On today's episode, Monica talked to a researcher who sends armies of shoppers to find out. And we get his tips for making your dollar stretch as far as possible in this very expensive city.

GUEST:
James McCafferty, Director of the Center for Economic and Business Research at Western Washington University

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes.

Coming up:  We want to know what your economic hacks are for getting by in a city with such a high cost of living. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail with your hacks-- it could be featured on an upcoming episode. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org.

Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg.

We all know the cost of living is really high in Seattle. Whether it's housing or groceries, this town is a tough place to make ends meet.&nbsp;
But just how expensive is Seattle compared to other cities?
On today's episode, Monica talked to a researcher who sends armies of shoppers to find out. And we get his tips for making your dollar stretch as far as possible in this very expensive city.
GUEST: James McCafferty, Director of the <a href="https://cbe.wwu.edu/cebr">Center for Economic and Business Research</a>&nbsp;at Western Washington University
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes">kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes</a>.
Coming up:  We want to know what your economic hacks are for getting by in a city with such a high cost of living. Give us a call at <a href="tel:2062217158" data-stringify-link="tel:2062217158" data-sk="tooltip_parent">(206) 221-7158</a> and leave a voicemail with your hacks-- it could be featured on an upcoming episode. You can also email us at <a href="mailto:booming@kuow.org">booming@kuow.org</a>.
Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/carol-smith">Carol Smith</a>. Our producers are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/lucy-soucek">Lucy Soucek</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/joshua-mcnichols">Joshua McNichols</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/monica-nickelsburg">Monica Nickelsburg</a>.

How expensive is Seattle compared to other cities?  Monica talked to a researcher who sends armies of shoppers to find out. 

How does Seattle's cost of living stack up to other cities?

The Pacific Northwest has been booming for decades, and home builders have struggled to keep up.  

That’s led to a housing shortage, homelessness crisis, and transportation headaches. But we may see an even bigger population boom here as climate change makes more places unlivable.  

Climate migration is difficult to study, and even harder to predict. But some researchers say a historic population shift has already begun.

On today's episode: is the Pacific Northwest ready for an influx of climate refugees?

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes.

Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg.

The Pacific Northwest has been booming for decades, and home builders have struggled to keep up.&nbsp;&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s led to a housing shortage, homelessness crisis, and transportation headaches. But we may see an even bigger population boom here as climate change makes more places unlivable.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Climate migration is difficult to study, and even harder to predict. But some researchers say a historic population shift has already begun.
On today's episode: is the Pacific Northwest ready for an influx of climate refugees?
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes">kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes</a>.
Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/carol-smith">Carol Smith</a>. Our producers are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/lucy-soucek">Lucy Soucek</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/joshua-mcnichols">Joshua McNichols</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/monica-nickelsburg">Monica Nickelsburg</a>.

Climate migration is difficult to study, and even harder to predict. But some researchers say a historic population shift has already begun.

The climate migrants seeking refuge in the PNW

You may have heard that the economy is maybe... definitely... probably... in an “AI bubble.” 

Companies are spending hundreds of billions of dollars to build the AI infrastructure of the future. The hope is all that spending will pay off with super-advanced AI that will more than cover the cost of building it.

But that payoff isn’t coming — at least not yet. Companies are struggling to make a profit on the AI of today. So, is that future real, or just a mirage?  

Today: What happens to Seattle’s economy if the AI bubble bursts?

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes.

Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg.

You may have heard that the economy is maybe... definitely... probably... in an &ldquo;AI bubble.&rdquo;&nbsp;
<ul></ul>
Companies are spending hundreds of billions of dollars to build the AI infrastructure of the future. The hope is all that spending will pay off with super-advanced AI that will more than cover the cost of building it.
But that payoff isn&rsquo;t coming &mdash; at least not yet. Companies are struggling to make a profit on the AI of today. So, is that future real, or just a mirage?&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul></ul>
Today: What happens to Seattle&rsquo;s economy if the AI bubble bursts?
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes">kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes</a>.
Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/carol-smith">Carol Smith</a>. Our producers are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/lucy-soucek">Lucy Soucek</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/joshua-mcnichols">Joshua McNichols</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/monica-nickelsburg">Monica Nickelsburg</a>.

Companies are spending hundreds of billions of dollars to build the AI infrastructure of the future. But companies are struggling to make a profit on the AI of today. So, is that future real, or just a mirage?  

Pharmacies are sick. Is there a cure?

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