economy | FFXnow

Published October 27, 2025 at 11:45AM

A for lease sign for the office building at 11487 Sunset Hills Road in Reston in June 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Reston and Herndon business corridor was the standout for office leasing across Northern Virginia in the third quarter, according to new data.

While total leasing volume regionwide dipped 25.8% year-over-year, the Reston and Herndon area posted its best performance in three years and totaling about one-third of leasing activity in Northern Virginia as government contractors shrugged off economic challenges and looked toward higher defense spending, according to Savills Research & Data Services.

Countywide

N. Va. business leaders grow more pessimistic about near-term future of local economy

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 24, 2025 at 9:15AM

A flyer for FedSupport, a hub of resources for current and former federal workers, seen at a Northern Virginia job fair (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A quarterly survey of Northern Virginia business leaders shows an increasing level of concern about the near-term future of the region’s economy.

Just under half the 120 business leaders surveyed — 49% — foresee the economy declining either “slowly” or “significantly” over the next six months, according to results released yesterday (Thursday) by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and Pinkston for the fourth quarter of 2025.

News

Tysons retail visits now exceeding pre-pandemic levels, report finds

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 22, 2025 at 2:45PM

People on the escalator in the east wing of Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Retail activity was booming in Tysons for the first half of this year, surging past pre-pandemic levels, the Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) found in a recent report.

Released last month, the retail-focused market report for the second quarter of 2025 offered some positive economic news for Fairfax County at a time when the federal government shutdown and rising unemployment have kept the larger D.C. region on edge.

News

Report: Reston-based company may lay off nearly 100 employees

By Jared Serre

Published October 14, 2025 at 10:10AM | Updated October 14, 2025 at 11:56AM

Peraton has its headquarters at 1875 Explorer Street in Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Reston-based information technology company may lay off nearly 100 people by the end of this year.

Citing “uncertainty around the future of some contracts with federal agencies,” the contractor Peraton issued layoff notices to 92 employees earlier this month, the Washington Business Journal reported last week.

Countywide

Lower interest rates helped more buyers into Fairfax homes market in September

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 13, 2025 at 11:15AM

Sign for a home under contract (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Home sales and average sales prices across Fairfax County rose in September, as buyers cashed in on lower interest rates despite ongoing economic concerns.

A total of 953 properties went to closing for the month, up from 920 in September 2024, according to figures reported Friday (Oct. 10) by Bright MLS, using data from MarketStats by ShowingTime.

Countywide

D.C. region leaders troubled by ‘elevated’ food insecurity levels found in report

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 9, 2025 at 9:15AM

Food-pantry shelves (photo via Jacob McGowin/Unsplash)

More than one in four Fairfax County households meets the definition of “food-insecure,” and that figure is likely to rise in coming months as the full impacts of federal worker and funding cuts materialize.

“More challenging times are ahead,” Hilary Salmon, senior director of marketing and communications for Capital Area Food Bank, predicted when briefing board members of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) yesterday (Wednesday).

Countywide

Report: N. Va. nonprofits face uncertain future amid economic challenges

By Acacia James

Published October 3, 2025 at 2:45PM

Girls on the Run of NOVA, a nonprofit based in Fairfax, received a $15,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia in 2025 (courtesy Girls on the Run of NOVA)

Nonprofits in Northern Virginia drive over $1.6 billion in economic activity, yet a new report warns that they face increasing threats from funding cuts, declining donations and growing demand.

Titled “The State of Nonprofits in Northern Virginia,” the Sept. 22 report from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s research arm, Insight Region, says these risks could lead to program closures and reduced access to food, shelter, healthcare, and education.

Countywide

Jobless Fairfax residents up by almost 28% over 2024 as more uncertainty looms

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 3, 2025 at 10:00AM

One attendee speaks at a roundtable for fired federal employees in summer 2025 (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Fairfax County in August had a 27.5% year-over-year increase in unemployed residents, a number some regional leaders may simply be the tip of the iceberg if more federal cuts and a weaker economy arrive.

A total of 622,875 county residents were employed in the civilian workforce, and 24,048 were looking for jobs during the month, according to figures reported Wednesday (Oct. 1) by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement (Virginia Works).

Countywide

Fairfax officials, local businesses offer resources for federal workers affected by shutdown

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 2, 2025 at 8:30AM

The U.S. Capitol building dome in D.C. (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Much of the federal government has ground to a halt, as Republicans and Democrats in Congress remain at odds over a funding plan.

With no clear end to the shutdown in sight after Democrats held firm yesterday (Wednesday) on their demands for a budget that extends health insurance tax credits, local government officials shared resources to help federal workers and other people affected by a loss of services, while some area restaurants are offering deals to ease the financial blow.

Countywide

Report finds D.C. region shedding jobs ahead of possible federal government shutdown

By Jared Serre

Published September 30, 2025 at 3:45PM

Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A report released last week confirmed the fears of Fairfax County’s leaders: that the D.C. region and Northern Virginia in particular are bearing the brunt of the economic fallout of ongoing worker and funding cuts by the Trump administration.

With the federal government potentially shutting down and many federal workers officially losing their jobs after accepting “deferred resignation” offers earlier this year at midnight tomorrow (Wednesday), Fairfax County Board of Supervisors slammed Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin — a Republican — for what he described as a lack of preemptive action.