By Bill Conerly, Businomics, Conerly Consulting Yesterday I said that the hard evidence for the recession being over was a little soft, with only three of the four main coincident indicators turning up.  Today’s announcement of industrial production gives us a second indicator that has turned up, at least for […]

The latest report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows the latest changes in personal income of Metro areas. Personal Income: Change from 2007-2008   (Metro areas only)

By Biz-Watch, On July 31st, Defend Oregon placed a full-page ad in the Portland Business Journal in support of the two tax increases increases (Corporate minimum and higher income earners) passed by the Oregon Legislature.  The message was straight to the business community with the headlines that read “We can […]

MarketWatch Reports: “WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — An economic recovery may begin soon, and data suggest that the recession is bottoming out, the Conference Board said Thursday.For its fourth consecutive monthly gain, the index of leading economic indicators rose 0.6% in July, following an upwardly revised increase of 0.8% in June. However, […]

Oregon July Unemployment: 11.9% By Patrick Emerson Oregon Economics Blog Oregon’s July unemployment was 11.9%, virtually the same as the (revised) 12% figure for June. The good news is that the pace of job losses is slowing dramatically. 700 jobs were lost in July compared to 3,400 (revised) in June […]

The Congressional incentive plan Cash-for-Clunkers is running into serious problems across the country.  Hundreds of dealers in New York are giving up the program: Breitbart reports, “Hundreds of auto dealers in the New York area have withdrawn from the government’s Cash for Clunkers program, citing delays in getting reimbursed by […]

Riley Research Poll Press Release, Oregon residents were asked to rate their favorability with the legislature’s the end of May and again after the session had concluded the in June. We observed a small drop in the percentage of unfavorable ratings, from the mid-session results. A little over one-fourth of […]

Stephen Bernard reports, “Financial services executives believe business conditions will bottom in 2009 before a recovery in the sector and broader economy occurs next year, according to a new study from KPMG LLP.  About 70 percent of the 130 executives polled believe revenue and profitability in the financial services sector […]

Restaurants Now Required to Count Calories The Oregon Restaurant Association  took a defensive stance during the 2009 Legislative Session.  Its greatest victory last session was delaying the implementation date of posting calories on menus as required by House Bill 2726 until January 1, 2011.  The bill mandated that chain restaurants […]

USA Today reports, “A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll found 57% of adults say the stimulus package is having no impact on the economy or making it worse. Even more —60% — doubt that the stimulus plan will help the economy in the years ahead, and only 18% say it has done […]