Chart Book · 8 charts

Northwest Arkansas in charts

One chart a weekday on the home page, all of them here. Each headline is computed from the data file it names; a chart steps aside when newer data arrives and returns once its numbers are rebuilt.

Airport · data through 2025

XNA moved a record 2.52 million passengers in 2025

What happened: Passengers rose 10.3% from 2024 (2,287,555) to 2025 (2,524,256), the highest of the 28 years on file (1998-2025). In 2026, July 2026 was the busiest month so far at 257,615.
Why it matters: Airport traffic tracks business travel to Bentonville's corporate base and tourism; it is one of the quickest reads on whether outside money is coming in.
What to watch: XNA posts monthly reports with a lag of about two months; August and September 2026 are next.

XNA annual — Total passengers (enplaned + deplaned)

Source: Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA). As of 2025. Chart: The 479 Report.

Data through 2025 · Free to reuse with the credit line. · Corrections

Source: Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) · See corrections

Building · data through 2026-08

Benton and Washington counties permitted 8,823 new homes in the past year, down 1.0%

What happened: In the 12 months through August 2026, Benton County permitted 5,273 housing units (prior 12 months: 5,422) and Washington County 3,550 (prior: 3,491).
Why it matters: Permits are the earliest hard sign of future supply; fewer permits now means fewer new homes and apartments about a year from now.
What to watch: Census posts the next month of county permits around the 18th business day of the following month.

New housing units permitted per month — Benton County vs New housing units permitted per month — Washington County

Source: U.S. Census Bureau BPS. As of 2026-08. Chart: The 479 Report.

Data through 2026-08 · Free to reuse with the credit line. · Corrections

Source: U.S. Census Bureau BPS · See corrections

Jobs · data through 2026-Q1

NWA job growth slowed to 0.5% from 2.8% a year earlier

What happened: The metro had 276,349 jobs covered by unemployment insurance in 2026-Q1, up 1,285 from 2025-Q1. A year before, the gain was 7,520 (2.8%).
Why it matters: This is the full count of payroll jobs (not a survey), so it is the most reliable read on whether the region is still adding work.
What to watch: BLS posts the next quarter (2026 Q2) in early December 2026.

Covered jobs (3rd month of quarter) — Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA

Source: BLS QCEW. As of 2026-Q1. Chart: The 479 Report.

Data through 2026-Q1 · Free to reuse with the credit line. · Corrections

Source: BLS QCEW · See corrections

Housing · data through 2026-Q2

NWA home prices are still rising, but at 3.66% a year, the slowest pace since 2014 Q2

What happened: The FHFA all-transactions index for the metro was up 3.66% from a year earlier in 2026-Q2, down from 4.45% in 2025-Q2.
Why it matters: Slower price growth with higher mortgage rates usually means buyers have more room to negotiate.
What to watch: FHFA posts 2026 Q3 in late November 2026.

Home price change vs. a year earlier, % (all-transactions) — Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA

Source: FHFA HPI (computed from NSA index). As of 2026-Q2. Chart: The 479 Report.

Data through 2026-Q2 · Free to reuse with the credit line. · Corrections

Source: FHFA HPI (computed from NSA index) · See corrections

Jobs · data through 2025-Q4

Employers in Benton and Washington counties hired 41,349 people in 2025 Q4

What happened: Private hires were 22,870 in Benton County and 18,479 in Washington County in 2025-Q4; a year earlier, 22,744 and 19,127.
Why it matters: Hires count every new start, including replacements, so it shows how much churn and opportunity there is beyond the net job count.
What to watch: Census adds the next quarter to the Quarterly Workforce Indicators about every three months.

Benton County: Hires during the quarter (all) vs Washington County: Hires during the quarter (all)

Source: Census LEHD Quarterly Workforce Indicators. As of 2025-Q4. Chart: The 479 Report.

Data through 2025-Q4 · Free to reuse with the credit line. · Corrections

Source: Census LEHD Quarterly Workforce Indicators · See corrections

Pay · data through 2025-Q3

New hires in Benton County earn about 56% of what established workers make

What happened: In 2025-Q3, new hires on the job the whole quarter averaged $3,964 a month vs $7,052 for all workers.
Why it matters: The gap shows how much of Benton County's high average pay sits with long-tenured corporate jobs rather than open positions.
What to watch: Q1 figures jump every year with annual bonuses; compare the same quarter year to year.

Benton County: Average monthly earnings, new hires on the job all quarter vs Benton County: Average monthly earnings, workers on the job all quarter

Source: Census LEHD Quarterly Workforce Indicators. As of 2025-Q3. Chart: The 479 Report.

Data through 2025-Q3 · Free to reuse with the credit line. · Corrections

Source: Census LEHD Quarterly Workforce Indicators · See corrections

Weather · data through 2025

2024 storms did $112.1 million in property damage in NWA, more than any year since at least 2010

What happened: NOAA's Storm Events database records $112.1 million in reported property damage in the NWA counties in 2024, out of $147.0 million for the ten years 2016-2025.
Why it matters: Damage history feeds insurance costs, which are now one of the fastest-rising parts of owning property here.
What to watch: NOAA refreshes the database monthly; full-year 2026 lands in spring 2027.

Reported property damage from severe weather, 4 NWA counties

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events. As of 2025. Chart: The 479 Report.

Data through 2025 · Free to reuse with the credit line. · Corrections

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events · See corrections

Today's chart

Lending · data through 2025

Home-loan originations rose in both counties in 2025: Benton 12.0%, Washington 9.0%

What happened: Lenders made 10,608 loans in Benton County and 6,230 in Washington County in 2025 (2024: 9,475 and 5,718).
Why it matters: Loan counts are a cleaner read on home buying and refinancing than dollar totals, which a few very large loans can distort (see the corrections log).
What to watch: 2026 HMDA data is released next summer.

Mortgage loans originated: Benton County (HMDA) vs Mortgage loans originated: Washington County (HMDA)

Source: CFPB / FFIEC HMDA. As of 2025. Chart: The 479 Report.

Data through 2025 · Free to reuse with the credit line. · Corrections

Source: CFPB / FFIEC HMDA · See corrections