José Pinomesa, President Oregon Independent Auto Dealers Association This is exactly what the OADA-Oregon Auto Dealers Association would like to propose for the 2009 legislative year.  This has been proposed by them on behalf of new car dealers in order to reduce the cost of overhead in these slow economic […]

By Bill Conerly, Businomics, Conerly Consulting Here’s the good oil forecast:  back in the fall of 2005, I predicted oil prices going back down to $35. Here’s the bad forecast: I said it would happen by the end of 2006. Right price target, wrong time span.  So what went wrong?

1. Which NW based company beat analysts expectations with a 9% earnings boost? A) Starbucks B) Jeld-Wen C) Nike D) Reasor’s foods 2. Which Las Vegas Casino sold for a cheap $775 Million this week? A) The Mirage B) The Venetian C) The Flamingo D) Treasure Island

Wells Fargo –According to the recent Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index surveyed in November, small business owners’ optimism fell to its lowest level since the survey’s inception in 2003. The score now stands at 10, a 35-point drop since last quarter. The Index has been declining since mid-2007. “The Index […]

By Alyssa Williams, Biz Reporter The Starbucks Corp. may need to cut $400 million of costs next fall to prevent further sales decline, but Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman and chief executive, maintains that the company shouldn’t change its business toward the type of discounting performed at fast-food chains.  Schultz needs […]

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 […]