Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.1 percent in November from 7.2 percent (as revised) in October. The state’s unemployment rate has risen sharply over the past five months after remaining stable throughout the first half of the year at near 5.5 percent. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate […]

By Dr. Eric Fruits Econinternational Several states are considering a real estate transfer tax to help boost state and local budgets.  During the booming real estate market, such taxes were considered to be relatively low-cost: When a market is hot, everyone can get warm.  Now that housing is cooling down, […]

Which Oregon restaurant opened their 85th store this week? A) Newport Seafood Grill B) McCormick and Schmick’s C) McMenamins This week Universal Studios is trying to stop…. A) Blockbuster.com from offering downloadable movies B) Netflicks from rent their movies for free C) Red Box vending machines from having new releases

By Alyssa Williams, Biz Reporter Daniel Reese, partner and media relations specialist of the Portland advertising company The AD Agency, believes advertising, even in an economic crisis, is crucial to the success of a business. The first impulse for many businesses in financial trouble is to cut marketing, he said. […]

By Nike Kern, Biz Reporter More than 100 members of the Willamette Valley Wineries Association hosted its annual Wine Country Thanksgiving this past weekend across the region where revenues and participation were mixed depending on the winery due in part to the economic crunch along with other events throughout the […]

By Mark G. Neil, ChFC, CLU President Northwest Wealth Advisors, Radio Host, Your Money and Your Life Now that the elections are over and the political bickering is on hold for awhile we can take the time to look at where we have been and where we might be headed. […]

By Bill Conerly, Businomics, Conerly Consulting We’re in recession. The Business Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research, a non-profit foundation, announced that the last economic expansion peaked in December 2007.  Read the full report. I’ve been asked frequently why it takes so long for an official […]

Which of the three US auto firms indicated that they might need to use bailout funds from Congress? A) Chrysler B) Ford C) GM Which NW based company Saw annual sales rise 50% compared to the other companies which reported declines this week? A) Cascade Corp. B) Alaska Airlines C) […]

Dr. Eric Fruits, Ecobnomist Econinternational Portland housing prices dropped another 1.3 percent in September, marking the fourth straight month of declining home prices. Nationwide, the Case-Shiller composite index continued 27 months of declines. While Portland’s market has not seen the same declines as the composite, the graph to the right […]

By University of Oregon Index of Economic Indicators Analysis The University of Oregon Index of Economic Indicators™ fell sharply in October to 90.2 (1997=100), a 0.7 percent decline from the previous month. Compared to six months ago, the UO Index is down 8.0 percent (annualized). Indicators pointed to widespread weakness; […]