I just updated my economic forecast, taking into account the new GDP data released by the government last week.  Fourth quarter growth came in stronger than I had expected–and everyone has been telling me I’m an optimist! Here’s how the new forecast looks:

Employers Share Top Staffing Challenges Offering more flexible work arrangements – 28% Investing more in training – 21% Promising future benefits (raises  when the economy picks up) – 18% Offering more performance-based incentives (trips, bonuses) – 16% Providing higher salary without the title – 11% Providing both higher title and […]

By Tim Duy, Oregon Economic Forum University of Oregon Index of Economic Indicators. sponsor, KeyBank. The University of Oregon Index of Economic Indicators™ rose 1.2 percent in December to 86.8 (1997=100) from a revised November figure of 85.8.  Since reaching a low in July 2009, the UO Index has risen […]

Federal Government to Crack Down on Misclassified “Independent Contractors?” by Dennis Westlind Stoel Rives LLP, Attorneys at Law It’s always risky to misclassify someone who should be an employee as an “independent contractor,” but President Obama’s 2011 budget proposal will increase the risks for employers.  According to this budget summary […]

By: J.L. Wilson Associated Oregon Industries, February 2010 Talking Points on Education and Fiscal Policy 1. Senator Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland) is introducing legislation – SB 1045 – that would prohibit employers from using credit reports to make employment decisions. Over half of Oregon employers use these types of reports in […]

Markets Don’t Stay Bad Forever: Cycles, Trends, and an Oil Refining Example By Bill Conerly, Conerly Consulting, Businomics, Valero Energy Corp. is selling oil refineries that it had bought a few years ago.  We used to have a shortage of domestic refining capacity, but now we have an excess—even though […]

Excerpts from Senate Democrat February 2010 Agenda Getting Oregonians Back to Work Last session, through our investments in transportation, infrastructure, health care, and affordable housing we created and maintained thousands of family-wage jobs in all 36 counties. In the February session, we will continue to prioritize preserving existing jobs, creating […]

Strategy for Measure 67 Taxes — Do you operate your business as a C corporation? By Patrick J. Green and John A. DiLorenzo, Jr. Davis, Wright and Tremaine LLP With the Jan. 26, 2010, passage of Measure 67 in Oregon, taxes on corporations with sales in the state will increase […]

The Vancouver newspaper — The Columbian Editorial Oregon voters deliver two more reasons for businesses to move to Clark County Thursday, January 28, 2010 Whatever government revenue might be generated by the passage of Measures 66 and 67 in Oregon on Tuesday, make no mistake that one result is simple […]