Cash-strapped states are attempting to draw businesses with tax incentives to revive local economies.  Despite the tax increases placed on small businesses during the 2009 Legislative Session, Oregon is following the trend with its own tax break to Intel. This year, states across the nation are offering business tax incentives […]

Here are the states with 10% unemployment; Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee.  Read article here.

The Anti-Stimulus That’s Bigger Than the Stimulus By Patrick Emerson Oregon Economics Blog James Surowiecki of the New Yorker…makes the point I have made many times – without block grants to the states to counter their collapsing revenues, the federal stimulus is simply a weak swimmer against a strong tide. […]

Oregon Employment Department Published Jul-20-2009 Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 12.2 percent in June, the same as the revised May figure of 12.2 percent. Despite remaining unchanged between May and June, Oregon’s unemployment rate was up substantially from June 2008 when the rate was 5.9 percent. In June, 241,156 […]

States across the nation are passing new legislation creating an internet tax to capture additional revenue to help states deal with the economic downturn.  These new laws would force out-of-state companies to collect sales tax if they have marketing affiliates in that state. These companies are currently protesting the responsibility […]

In the Philedelphia Inquirer, Martin Crutsinger of the Associated Press reports,  “Nine months into the fiscal year, the federal budget deficit has topped $1 trillion for the first time. The imbalance is intensifying fears about higher interest rates and inflation, and already pressuring the value of the dollar. But there […]

By Bill Conerly, Businomics, Conerly Consulting LLC These guys who write newspaper headlines are getting me down.  Here’s the Wall Street Journal’s online head:  “Housing Starts Jumped in June.”   Bloomberg proclaims: “Housing Starts in U.S. Unexpectedly Climb to Highest Level in Seven Months”  The Christian Science Monitor says:”US home construction […]

• Completed loan modifications fell 12 • Loans 60-plus-days delinquent increased approximately 7 percent • Foreclosure starts in April declined 3 percent • Foreclosure and third-party sales increased FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY: Washington, DC – Federal Housing Finance Agency Director James B. Lockhart today released FHFA’s latest Foreclosure Prevention Report […]

By Oregon Biz Report, Are economic woes finally behind us? There may be light at the end of the tunnel of economic recession based on responses to a June BusinessWeek survey of 179 US companies.  Key findings include: • 37% will reverse hiring freezes in the next six months • […]

Process for ADAAA Regulations Underway, Barran Liebman LLP Electronic AlertElectronic Alert, July 9, 2009 Do you use employment tests for hiring or promotion opportunities? Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, an employer generally may use facially non-discriminatory examinations or other selection devices for hiring or promotional decisions unless […]