U.S. Chamber of Commerce, A new report released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Workforce Freedom Initiative (WFI) outlines 10 of the worst policies adopted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) during the Obama administration. Restoring Common Sense to Labor Law: 10 Policies to Fix at the National Labor […]

By Oregon Small Business Association, Two important business tax bills up today in a House hearing. House Bill 2831 increases to $1,000 the minimum tax paid by S corporations with more than $25 million in Oregon sales. The tax increase would affect less than one-half of one percent of Oregon […]

Oregon Employment Department, Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.3 percent in January, from 4.5 percent in December. This was the lowest unemployment rate since comparable records began in 1976. Revised figures show Oregon’s unemployment rate has been on a declining trend over the past seven years. Outside of the past […]

By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis Blog The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis released the latest quarterly economic and revenue forecast. For the full document, slides and forecast data please see our main website. Below is the forecast’s Executive Summary.

 by Jason Norris, CFA Executive Vice President of Research Ferguson Wellman, A leading Oregon financial firm Friday, Feb 24 — Stocks ended the week marginally higher as U.S. economic data continued to generate positive headlines. Though regional manufacturing surveys around the U.S. are showing improving growth, retail earnings this week […]

Retailers meet with Trump to push tax reform, block ‘border adjustment’ J. Craig Shearman By National Retail Federation CEOs from some of the nation’s top retail companies met with President Trump at the White House as NRF argued that comprehensive tax reform is needed but said a proposed $1 trillion […]

Bullard Law, Portland law firm We created the Bullard Edge Awards, more popularly known as the BEAs.  Annually the BEAs recognize outstanding or infamous achievement in employment law.  There is not a nomination in every category every year.  It all depends on the year that was. This morning the BEA […]

OSBA Works Against Small Business Tax Increase By Oregon Small Business Association, Oregon Small Business Association President T.J. Riley appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue  to testify against SB 165. This bill would force small businesses across Oregon to add at least one full-time equivalent employee (FTE) […]

Alaska Air Group Press Release, Employees of Alaska Air Group companies Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are receiving $100 million in bonuses, following a record fourth quarter and record full-year earnings announcement. For most employees, this equates to more than 8 percent of their annual pay in 2016. The company’s […]

by Brad Houle, CFA Executive Vice President Ferguson Wellman, A leading Oregon financial firm For the week, the equity markets were higher by about 1.25 percent as investors absorbed Janet Yellen’s testimony to Congress and the stronger-than-expected economic data that was posted. Interest rates were higher with the 10-year U.S. […]