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Retail Sales Fall For First Time Since February

Retail Sales Fall For First Time Since February

Posted by on Oct 16th, 2019

U.S. retail sales fell in September for the first time in seven months. According to a report from the Commerce Department, retail sales fell 0.3 percent last month. Economists had forecast retail sales would climb 0.3 percent... 
U.S. Trade Deficit Widens More Than Expected

U.S. Trade Deficit Widens More Than Expected

Posted by on Oct 4th, 2019

The U.S. trade deficit widened more than expected in August. The imbalance stood at $54.9 billion at the end of the month, up 1.6 percent from $54 billion in July. That was higher than the $54.5 billion estimated by economists.... 
Last Year’s Job Numbers Revised Downward

Last Year’s Job Numbers Revised Downward

Posted by on Aug 25th, 2019

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is issuing new figures that lowers the number of jobs employers added to payrolls last year. During the 12-month period that ran from April, 2018 through March of this year, employers added 501,000... 
U.S., China Close To Trade Deal According To Several Reports

U.S., China Close To Trade Deal According To Several Reports

Posted by on Mar 12th, 2019

Reports from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg News say that lifting tariffs on Chinese goods by the US in exchange for China making several economic pledges are part of a trade deal that is on the horizon. Reuters... 
More Than Half of Economists Set 2020 For Next US Recession

More Than Half of Economists Set 2020 For Next US Recession

Posted by on Mar 8th, 2019

A survey taken by the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) reveals that  75 percent of economists believe a downturn in the US economy will happen in the next three years and that about 10 percent of them... 
Trump Expected To Ban Chinese Telecommunication Equipment

Trump Expected To Ban Chinese Telecommunication Equipment

Posted by on Feb 18th, 2019

Inside sources at the White House say that President Trump is planning to sign an executive order to ban Chinese telecommunication equipment from being used in US wireless networks sometime next week. According to CNBC this... 
GM Plant Closings Will Hit Parts Suppliers Far And Wide

GM Plant Closings Will Hit Parts Suppliers Far And Wide

Posted by on Feb 5th, 2019

The results of General Motors’ (GM) major restructuring along with its plan to close five North American factories in the next few months will cause a ripple effect for the many jobs in the auto parts suppliers industry. GM... 
Industrial Production in the US Closed 2018 on an Upswing

Industrial Production in the US Closed 2018 on an Upswing

Posted by on Feb 5th, 2019

According to the Federal Reserve, US factory output grew at a rate of 1.1 percent last month.  While that might seem like a very low number—and it is—the sentiment is positive because economists had actually expected... 
Mailing Just Got More Expensive With Forever Stamp’s Biggest Price Increase

Mailing Just Got More Expensive With Forever Stamp’s Biggest Price Increase

Posted by on Jan 31st, 2019

American’s will be paying more for mailing letters and packaging beginning now! The biggest price increase in the history of the US Postal service for the first-class Forever stamp increased by a nickel on Sunday from 50... 
Good News For Wild Blueberries In Faltering No. 1 State

Good News For Wild Blueberries In Faltering No. 1 State

Posted by on Jan 13th, 2019

Maine is the number one state in the wild blueberry business. Though growers there had a bad year in production there is hope for an upturn in the future. Wild Blueberry growers in Maine harvested 11 million pounds less of... 
Big claims strain senior living market for US insurers

Big claims strain senior living market for US insurers

Posted by on Jan 11th, 2019

The US population is aging and more seniors are seeking senior living community facilities to live in during their remaining years. But just as there is a rise in senior living community complexes being built so is there a rise... 
Amazon To Open Operation In Mississippi, Creating 850 Jobs

Amazon To Open Operation In Mississippi, Creating 850 Jobs

Posted by on Jan 3rd, 2019

Amazon currently operates more than 75 fulfillment centers in North America and employs approximately 125,000 full-time hourly employees in the US alone. Amazon will be adding to this list another consumer goods fulfillment... 
AAA: Record Number of Travelers This Thanksgiving Week

AAA: Record Number of Travelers This Thanksgiving Week

Posted by on Nov 26th, 2018

According to AAA Northeast, this week’s travel volume due to the Thanksgiving holiday will be the highest record set since 2005 with more than 54 million people traveling by driving, flying or taking the rail.  And the highest numbers... 
401(k) Account Balances Are At An All Time High

401(k) Account Balances Are At An All Time High

Posted by on Nov 9th, 2018

It looks now is a good time as any to start saving for retirement.  In fact, if you have a 401(k) account, you will be very happy to know that the average account balance reached a record high, this quarter (Q3), at $106,500. This... 
U.S. Imports Less Steel After Tariffs Begin

U.S. Imports Less Steel After Tariffs Begin

Posted by on Nov 5th, 2018

Business Forward tracks a host of trade issues including the North American Free Trade agreement and its pending replacement. In its latest report in October U.S. manufacturers in highly competitive markets and those manufacturers... 
How BuildBinder helps construction teams handle their projects

How BuildBinder helps construction teams handle their projects

Posted by on Feb 27th, 2017

Construction teams can face communication challenges that ultimately cost them greatly both in time and budget. If team members cannot visualize information on time, then their decisions must be pushed back. A great deal of modern... 
GM Ignition Switch Death and Injuries Tallies Will Rise ‘Absolutely’ Warns Fund Manager

GM Ignition Switch Death and Injuries Tallies Will Rise ‘Absolutely’ Warns Fund Manager

Posted by on Feb 2nd, 2015

A representative of the compensation fund for victims of GM’s ignition switch scandal has suggested that a great many more injuries and deaths can and will be linked to the automaker over the coming months. In total, around 2.6 million... 
Marriott Bows to FFC Ruling, Will Not Appeal Wi-Fi Blocking Ban

Marriott Bows to FFC Ruling, Will Not Appeal Wi-Fi Blocking Ban

Posted by on Feb 2nd, 2015

Marriott Hotels has confirmed its intention not to appeal against the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to barring access to personal Wi-Fi networks within the company’s property’s. Having been slapped with a penalty... 
Consumer Spending Down Despite Low Gas Prices, Strong Job Creation

Consumer Spending Down Despite Low Gas Prices, Strong Job Creation

Posted by on Feb 2nd, 2015

December saw a fall in consumer spending of 0.3%, suggesting that the US public is still cautious about overspending in spite of strong job creation and falling gas prices. Monday’s report from the Commerce Department outlined a... 
US Gas Prices Break $2 Barrier After Five Weeks of Lows, AAA Reports

US Gas Prices Break $2 Barrier After Five Weeks of Lows, AAA Reports

Posted by on Feb 2nd, 2015

US gas prices have once again broken the $2 per gallon barrier after remaining below the mark for an extraordinary five straight weeks. According to AAA Michigan, self-serve regular has over the past seven days in price to $2.11 per... 
Cyber Monday Retail Stats Show Massive Mobile Movement Over 2013

Cyber Monday Retail Stats Show Massive Mobile Movement Over 2013

Posted by on Dec 8th, 2014

Second only to Black Friday in pure chaos stakes, Cyber Monday has traditionally been one of America’s most bewilderingly blistering days of the country’s annual retail calendar. Famed for pulling tens of millions of consumers... 
Debts owed by students are a concern on their own, more bad news behind the scenes

Debts owed by students are a concern on their own, more bad news behind the scenes

Posted by on Jul 8th, 2013

More and more competition in the job market has led to more and more competition in education. This has in turn driven up the price of attaining a college degree and created a huge increase in student debt. It is now estimated the... 
Upturn in oil prices might negatively affects stocks and the economy

Upturn in oil prices might negatively affects stocks and the economy

Posted by on Jul 5th, 2013

In New York Crude was being traded at over $102 a barrel during Wednesday, which is a high for the year. At the end the last shortened day of trading before the holiday, crude closed at $101.22 a barrel.   The recent events in... 
Student Loan Interest Rate Doubles Overnight to 6.8%

Student Loan Interest Rate Doubles Overnight to 6.8%

Posted by on Jul 2nd, 2013

The interest rate on college students’ subsidized Stafford loans have doubled overnight to 6.8%. This not only adds financial burden to the 7 million students expected to take out Stafford loans in the coming scholastic year, but... 
Sales Fizzling for BlackBerry – Doubtful Comeback

Sales Fizzling for BlackBerry – Doubtful Comeback

Posted by on Jul 1st, 2013

A disappointing earnings report for Blackberry caused its shares to lower, despite the company’s efforts to turn the company around with the introduction of the new Blackberry 10 software and phones.   The Waterloo, Ontario-based... 
Student Loan Interest Rates Doubling to 6.8% – 1 July

Student Loan Interest Rates Doubling to 6.8% – 1 July

Posted by on Jul 1st, 2013

  Student loans are a headache for college graduates. However, they will be hit with another financial burden as the interest rates could double.   Frank Willshire, a software engineer who is still paying off loans incurred... 
Positive News For Stocks: Boeing and HP Take the Lead

Positive News For Stocks: Boeing and HP Take the Lead

Posted by on Jun 28th, 2013

There is still time left before the central bank starts decreasing its bond purchases. This is what was suggested by Federal Reserve policymakers in several speeches. Due to this and positive economic reports, yesterday, Thursday June... 
Three-Week Low for Euro – ECB Concerns

Three-Week Low for Euro – ECB Concerns

Posted by on Jun 27th, 2013

The euro declined to a three-week low against the U.S. dollar. It also fell against Japanese Yen yesterday (Wednesday 26 June) following the European Central Bank’s President Mario Draghi’s comments emphasizing the risks to euro... 
Weak Consumer Spending Revised Down US GDP

Weak Consumer Spending Revised Down US GDP

Posted by on Jun 27th, 2013

The initial estimate of the U.S. economic performance by the Commerce Department was 2.4 percent. However, on Wednesday 26 June, the Department revised the estimate down to 1.8 percent. This result is the weakest in two years and... 
US Gas Prices Still Much Lower than the Rest of the World

US Gas Prices Still Much Lower than the Rest of the World

Posted by on Jun 26th, 2013

The current average gas price at the pump is $3.55, according to gasbuddy.com. It is quite low compared to the price that consumers in other countries pay.   The actual market value of gasoline costs between $2 and $0.90 more... 
CPI Down in May, Jobless Rate at 7.6%, the Fed is Happy

CPI Down in May, Jobless Rate at 7.6%, the Fed is Happy

Posted by on Jun 20th, 2013

Prices for goods increased in the USA in the past month according to the Labor Department.  The Consumer Price Index moved up just one tenth of one percent meaning the change in prices was statistically flat or practically irrelevant. Of... 
Builders Show Confidence in Recovering Housing Market – June Traffic Beats May

Builders Show Confidence in Recovering Housing Market – June Traffic Beats May

Posted by on Jun 17th, 2013

For those under the rater gloomy impression that the current housing recovery is no more than a passing fluke, one of the most important measures of confidence among builders is pointing to the exact opposite: The housing recovery... 
Jobs Report Shows Signs of Slow Improvement, Insufficient to Quell Unemployment

Jobs Report Shows Signs of Slow Improvement, Insufficient to Quell Unemployment

Posted by on Jun 10th, 2013

The US jobs market is certainly heading in the right direction, though market experts are concerned that the pace is not nearly fast enough to make much of a positive difference for the 12 million Americans still struggling to find... 
McDonald’s Looks to Bolster Falling Sales with Massive Portions and Midnight Breakfasts

McDonald’s Looks to Bolster Falling Sales with Massive Portions and Midnight Breakfasts

Posted by on Jun 7th, 2013

McDonald’s seems to have a very clear business model for 2013 – encouraging customers to eat larger portions and at more regular intervals, regardless of where they might be at the time. For those looking to stuff their faces in... 
Chrysler Posts 11% Growth in May Vehicle Sales – Pickups Remains Key Players

Chrysler Posts 11% Growth in May Vehicle Sales – Pickups Remains Key Players

Posted by on Jun 3rd, 2013

Chrysler Group LLC has surprised analysts and investors by posting an 11% increase in vehicle sales for the month of May – an improvement credited largely accelerating interest in pickup trucks. Chrysler has thus become the first... 
House Prices Grow at Fastest Rate in Seven Years – Momentum to Carry Through 2013

House Prices Grow at Fastest Rate in Seven Years – Momentum to Carry Through 2013

Posted by on May 28th, 2013

US house prices grew in March at the fastest rate in almost seven years, as consumer confidence once again bred optimism that the economy is heading in the right direction.  With the spring buying season having apparently surpassed... 
Apple Steps Out of Shadows, Becomes Centerpiece in Washington Tax Debate

Apple Steps Out of Shadows, Becomes Centerpiece in Washington Tax Debate

Posted by on May 24th, 2013

Apple’s extraordinary growth that would take it to the top of the global technology industry was undeniably overstated – everything seemed to go on behind the scenes, out of view and just as Apple likes it. However, a recent twist... 
119,000 Private Jobs Added in April – Overall Economic Growth Lower Than Expected

119,000 Private Jobs Added in April – Overall Economic Growth Lower Than Expected

Posted by on May 1st, 2013

American companies added a further 119,000 jobs during March, considerably lower than economist projections. Despite and notable uptick from the previous months, the job market still appears to be struggling through the ongoing spring... 
Ford Plans to Double Chinese Market Share, Woo Buyers with Wave of New Vehicles

Ford Plans to Double Chinese Market Share, Woo Buyers with Wave of New Vehicles

Posted by on Apr 17th, 2013

Dave Schoch of Ford’s Asia division has confirmed that the automaker intends to increase its market share in China two-fold by 2016, which would amount to a full 6% of the country’s standard consumer auto market. The projection... 
Developing Asia Economic Growth Slow but Steady – Energy Demand Dangerous and Unsustainable

Developing Asia Economic Growth Slow but Steady – Energy Demand Dangerous and Unsustainable

Posted by on Apr 9th, 2013

The economic outlook in the developing nations of Asia is on course for rock-solid growth over the course of the next decade, which although not quite on par with the speed of economic expansion prior to the global financial crisis... 
Hawaiian Airlines Tops Table for On-Time Flights – United Airlines Takes Most Complaints

Hawaiian Airlines Tops Table for On-Time Flights – United Airlines Takes Most Complaints

Posted by on Apr 8th, 2013

The results are in and while some airlines have reasons to celebrate, others really need to look long and hard at how they can up their on-time performance in 2013 and beyond. Kicking off with one of the more positive examples, The... 
Service Industries Slowing Down, Economic Growth Cools

Service Industries Slowing Down, Economic Growth Cools

Posted by on Apr 4th, 2013

Expansion in US service industries during March was the slowest in seven months, with businesses creating fewer jobs than had been expected – all signs that the economy as a whole is taking a turn for the worst. According to the... 
White House: 2 Million Job Creations in 2012

White House: 2 Million Job Creations in 2012

Posted by on Feb 17th, 2013

The White House went on record this Friday to assure the nation that the overall US economy is well on its way back to strength, with the year ahead having been earmarked for significantly increased job growth. However, there will... 
Economic Dilemma for China Investors

Economic Dilemma for China Investors

Posted by on Feb 8th, 2013

Determining if China’s economy is on the rebound or on the skids seems to be more difficult than just understanding quarterly reports.  China supported by New York’s CBB-International reports of higher than expected revenue growth... 
Stocks Take Off After Relatively Positive Employment Report

Stocks Take Off After Relatively Positive Employment Report

Posted by on Feb 2nd, 2013

Stock prices surged on Friday after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its employment report.  Investor sentiment had been declining in the latter half of the week ever since the Commerce Department release a downbeat GDP report... 
Are We Headed for a Recession?

Are We Headed for a Recession?

Posted by on Jan 31st, 2013

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced on Wednesday that U.S. GDP declined 0.1% in the fourth quarter. In sharp contrast, GDP grew a little over 3% in the prior quarter.  The decline is the first drop in GDP since 2009. The drop... 
Last Second Deal Reached to Avoid Fiscal Cliff

Last Second Deal Reached to Avoid Fiscal Cliff

Posted by on Dec 31st, 2012

Fighting what at one point seemed to be a losing battle against the sands of time, the White House and Senate Republicans managed to reach a deal on Monday evening to come into effect on Midnight New Years Eve and avoid the dreaded... 
Fortune Announces 2012 Global Women Leaders Award Winners

Fortune Announces 2012 Global Women Leaders Award Winners

Posted by on Aug 9th, 2012

What makes a leader worthy of such a title is not how well they carry out their role, but the steps they take to redefine their role and go the extra mile unprompted. And as far as case-in-point examples go, take a look at any member... 
White House Economic Growth Predictions Wildly OTT

White House Economic Growth Predictions Wildly OTT

Posted by on Jul 27th, 2012

Economic recovery in the US has one again strayed into a patch of turbulence, having reduced in speed rather significantly during the first six-months of 2012. Nevertheless, this didn’t seem to dampen spirits too much at the White... 
Putting 8.3% Unemployment in Perspective – Check Out 1933!

Putting 8.3% Unemployment in Perspective – Check Out 1933!

Posted by on Jul 22nd, 2012

Anyone that thinks an unemployment rate of 8.3% is the end of the world should take a look back 80 years or so and maybe reevaluate. Back in 1933, unemployment across the US reached a rather mind-blowing peak of 25.6%. A new economic... 
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