Article by: J.L. Wilson Associated Oregon Industries New regulations limiting the ability of employers to use credit histories for prospective employees and job applicants began on July 1 with Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian marking the occasion by holding sessions of a special seminar on the topic in Portland.

The National Federation of Independent Business Index of Small Business Optimism lost 3.2 points in June falling to 89.0 after posting modest gains for several months*. The Index has been below 93 every month since January 2008 (30 months), and below 90 for 23 of those months, all readings typical […]

Internet Sales Tax Draft Bill, the “Main Street Fairness Act” by Joseph M. Wallin                                                                         […]

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Press Release:                                                                   Lawsuits Cost Small Businesses $105 Billion, Study Shows A new study […]

Senator Jeff Merkley Press Release U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kit Bond (R-Mo.), and Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) recently  introduced legislation to help local businesses stay afloat during times of recession and high unemployment.  The Rebuilding Local Business Act creates a temporary three-year HUBZone “Rebuilding Status” for counties that have an […]

The resounding effects of the economic downturn have some workers making healthier choices when it comes to lunch breaks and smoking habits during the work day. According to a new CareerBuilder survey, 47 percent of workers report they have been packing a lunch more often to eat healthier or help […]

NFIB/Oregon will host a Small Business Summit in Bend, July 25, 26 & 27, 2010 at the Sunriver Resort. Key legislators, candidates for office, and guest speakers who are experts on small business issues will make presentations.

by Bill Conerly Conerly Consulting, Businomics Blog I think the Federal Reserve has unknowingly slowed the rate of economic growth.  We are not in a second dip, but we are hardly expanding at all.  Recent data have been lackluster, though not dreadful.  Employment excluding Census workers, car sales, the ISM […]

Shoe trend catches Nike Off Guard, but expect a classic NIKE rebound By Oregon Small Business Association, Nike, the footwear innovator, originally scoffed at the idea of the new trend in toning shoes. Now it seems they are paying the price for a missed opportunity as business is booming for […]

Tax increases on oil companies, soda pop, income and parcels failed in June. By Oregon Tax News, Oil tax loses in Congress At the federal level, Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent Senator from Vermont, led the unsuccessful Congressional effort to pass legislation to repeal oil tax breaks. Senator Sanders argued […]