By Alysha Phelps Barran Liebman LLP On February 9, 2023, the United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (“DOL”) published an opinion letter and a field assistance bulletin concerning the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”). The DOL opinion letter clarifies […]

By Oregon Small Business Association Foundation Supply chain issues and lower demand as a result of higher prices and interest rates made 2022 the worst year for new car sales since 2011, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates. When automakers report their full year sales next week, the number should […]

By Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, [From the desk of Chip Rogers, President & CEO, American Hotel & Lodging Association]Today, AHLA released its 2023 State of the Hotel Industry report. The report forecasts that the hotel industry in 2023 will surpass pre-pandemic levels of demand, nominal room revenue and state […]

By Oregon Business and Industry The Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue heard a pair of bills Feb. 6 that would keep key enterprise zone programs alive until at least 2032. Senate Bill 134 would extend the state’s primary enterprise zone program, and Senate Bill 135 would extend Oregon’s rural […]

National Retail Federation, A recession is unlikely and the economy is expected to see slight growth in 2023 as consumers continue to cope with inflation and high interest rates, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said today. “A month into 2023, the economy is facing stiff headwinds and – […]

By Oregon Small Business Association Foundation There are three basic sources of demands for downtowns: downtown residents, commuters, and visitors from the suburbs or out-of-town. Commuter demand declined significantly in Portland (see Oregonians Working from Home). Many downtown Portland businesses relied on the lunch or after work crowds for a […]

By Oregon US Attorney Press Release, SAN DIEGO—On January 26, 2023, a California man who evaded federal authorities for more than two decades after being convicted at trial and who was wanted in District of Oregon for perpetrating a real estate scam while a fugitive pleaded guilty in San Diego. […]

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation December spending on services was the worst in nearly a year, retail spending fell 3 of the last 4 months, rising mortgage interest rates drove existing home sales to their lowest level since 2014, and car sales were the worst in more than a […]

By NFIB, According to NFIB’s monthly jobs report, 57% of owners reported hiring or trying to hire in January, up two points. Of those hiring or trying to hire, 91% of owners reported few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill. Twenty-seven percent of owners […]

By Oregon Small Business Association Foundation According to the U.S. Census’ 2021 American Community Survey, between 2019 and 2021 work from home workers increased from 6% of the labor force to 18%. In Oregon, it went from 7% in 2019 to 23% in 2021. Oregon ranks as the fifth highest […]