Archives

December 21, 2009 - PC Repair shops fail hidden tests

From Oregon Small Business Association, Two different studies this year exposed serious problems in the computer repair industry which often goes unquestioned by many businesses.   The Wall Street Journal did a secret study with in-store computer repair being offered by big box chain stores.   Sky News did a hidden study […]


December 20, 2009 - Personal Income Chart: Oregon compared to other states

From Bureau of Economic Analysis, Personal Income: Percent Change 2009:II-2009:III State Personal Income: Third Quarter 2009 State personal income growth averaged 0.3 percent in the third quarter of 2009 with 19 states seeing net earnings growth for the first time in at least a year, according to estimates released today […]


December 19, 2009 - 29% will be giving holiday bonuses, 26% give gifts

Career Builders – – While companies have been forced to make some difficult decisions in 2009 relating to their overall businesses, they still plan to reward their current staffs with holiday perks such as bonuses, gifts and parties, but sometimes on a scaled back level. This is according to a […]


December 18, 2009 - Oregon economist knocks Senator Merkley on Bernanke

By Patrick Emerson Oregon Economics Blog From the Wall Street Journal: “Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon became the first Democratic member of the Senate to announce that he’ll vote against Ben Bernanke’s nomination to a second term as Federal Reserve chairman. In a statement ahead of Thursday’s Senate Banking Committee […]


December 17, 2009 - Senator Jeff Merkley: Statement on Ben Bernanke

US Senator Jeff Merkley Statement on Nomination of Ben Bernanke December 16, 2009 Press Release from US Senator Jeff Merkley WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, issued the following statement on his intention to vote against Ben […]


December 17, 2009 - Where’s the Stimulus? Federal Spending Data Says Little

Bill Conerly , Conerly Consulting LLC, “Businomics” Everyone knows that we have this huge fiscal stimulus.  I went looking for it.  I didn’t look everywhere, though.  We’ve had some tax cuts and increases in transfer payments.  The raw data on these subjects reflect not only policy, but the circumstances of […]


December 16, 2009 - Portland area: Hiring weak, Payroll declines, Housing up

By Tim Duy, Oregon Economic Forum This is highlights from the University of Oregon Portland Metro Business Index (PMBI) for the third quarter of 2009.  We thank KeyBank for their sponsor of this report. The PMBI fell 0.7% compared to the second quarter, and is down 15.3% compared to year […]


December 16, 2009 - AOI Business Awards Given. Plus Ex-Utah Gov. on Health Reform

Synopsis of Article on AOI annual meeting. 1.) Keynote: Former Utah Gov. & Sec. Health-Human Services Mike Leviett speaks on health care reform 2.) Awards given: Pat Reiten, Pres. PacifiCorp; Steve Clark, Pres. Portland Tribune; and State Senator Bruce Starr. From Associated Oregon Industries, Oregon’s largests business lobby The 2009 […]


December 15, 2009 - Ore. leads nation in income taxes. Now view 2010 change

Oregon already is a leader in state income taxes, but now consider how much higher it will be if the 2001 Bush Tax Cuts will expire. By Oregon Tax News, Americans for Tax Reform did a calculation of what each state’s top income tax rate would be if the Bush […]


December 14, 2009 - Measure 66-67 Tax Ads Invade Airwaves

By Oregon BIZ Watch, There are four Measure 66 & Measure 67 ads on the TV airwaves and internet universe. Measure 66 and Measure 67 are the Oregon measures that raise business and income tax rates as part of the 2009-2010 budget approved by the Oregon Legislature. This Anti-Measure 66-67 […]