By Josh Lehner, Office of Economic Analysis, 2018 was another banner year for the economy. Jobs in Oregon are on pace to increase 2.1% which is good growth for the ninth year of an economic expansion. More importantly these gains are still strong enough to accommodate the influx of new […]

Some of the most viewed and shared Oregon business stories on Oregon Business Report. 1. $800 million wine, beer, sin tax to slam small business 2. Oregon has a secret gas tax 3. Lawmakers roll out 14 new business taxes 4. How much will your Kicker Tax Refund be?

By NFIB, These victories may not have generated headlines, but their impact on small business is important nonetheless. NFIB members have celebrated a variety of important triumphs this year, including a delay of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Waters of the U.S. rule, a dismissed court challenge to President Donald Trump’s […]

By U.S. Attorney, Oregon District John Jason Burgess, 43, of Hillsboro, Oregon, pleaded guilty to one count of concealing or destroying labor union records. According to court documents, between 2008 and 2016, Burgess served as the president of Local 304, an independent labor union representing approximately 140 employees of Pacific […]

By Oregon Small Business Association, The Oregon Legislature just released a batch of over 50 tax related bills it will consider in the 2019 session. Here are some of the Oregon tax proposals that will hit business the hardest. 1. Business property taxes: HJR 3, HJR 4, and HB 2167 […]

By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis Economists have tons of data and research on current incomes. However we have considerably less on wealth. In fact we have next to nothing at the regional or local level. Given the increased concentration of wealth in recent decades, and the aging […]

By Oregon Attorney General’s Office, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum today announced a $120,000 settlement with car dealership Courtesy Ford, and warned other car dealers that violating the state’s advertising rules could result in stiff penalties. The settlement includes $55,000 in restitution to Oregonians who unknowingly purchased a “Data Dots” theft […]

National Retail Federation Press Release, The National Retail Federation and more than 250 retail, restaurant and other companies from across the country are urging Congress to fix a mistake in last year’s tax reform law as part of end-of-year legislation, saying the error has put millions of dollars in job-creating […]

By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis As policymakers, builders, and the market work to solve the housing supply issues, a key question everybody asks is what type of housing do we need? Aren’t millennials always going to be renters? [No] Should we grow up, or out? Our office’s […]

Employers Prepare: Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave Premiums Start January 1st! By Nicole Elgin & Kyle Abraham By Barran Liebman LLP Oregon law firm On January 1, 2019, Washington will become the fifth state in the country with Paid Family and Medical Leave. This new program will allow employees […]