Severe winter weather did not dampen December retail sales as shoppers took advantage of heavy promotions and last-minute deals. According to the National Retail Federation – the world’s largest retail trade association – December retail sales, which excludes automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, increased 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month, and 4.6 percent unadjusted year-over-year. Total… Keep reading →
Economy
The following was issued by Brian O’Shaughnessy, Regional Vice President, USA for the Licensing Executives Society (USA and Canada), Inc. The debate over patent litigation abuse, and its effect on innovation and our economy, continues to rage. Various interests, and now members of Congress, argue that immediate action in the form of legislation is needed…. Keep reading →
The National Retail Federation today issued the following statements from NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay and Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz on the December jobs report: “The nation’s retailers continued to add to their payrolls in December even in the midst of the condensed holiday shopping season,” Shay said. “Retailers and merchants, especially those operating… Keep reading →
Microgrid Market Will Reach Nearly $20 Billion in Annual Revenue by 2020, Forecasts Navigant Research
By businesswireDuring the last few years, the pace of microgrid deployment has accelerated rapidly around the world, in a variety of application segments. Now, the industry is moving into the next phase of project development, focusing on how to develop projects on commercially viable terms. Click to tweet: According to a new report from Navigant Research,… Keep reading →
Manufacturers’ News, Inc.– For a third straight year, industrial employment in Wyoming posted a gain, reports the 2014 Wyoming Manufacturers Directory®, an industrial directory and database published by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. According to data collected by Manufacturers’ News, Wyoming gained 584 manufacturing jobs from October 2012 to October 2013, or 1.7%, outpacing… Keep reading →
Optimism for the nation’s economic outlook among U.S. business leaders plummeted 16 percentage points in fourth quarter 2013 to a net balance of 36 percent according to the latest data from the Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR), a survey of 3,300 business leaders in 45 countries. Hiring expectations in the United States declined for… Keep reading →
Manufacturers’ News, Inc.– For a third straight year industrial employment in Kentucky posted a gain, according to the 2014 Kentucky Manufacturers Register®, an industrial directory and database published by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. The report, based on data collected by Manufacturers’ News, states Kentucky gained 7,401 manufacturing jobs from September 2012 to September… Keep reading →
Judge Rakoff Rips The Government For Dropping The Ball On Financial Crimes
By By Joe Patrice for Above The law
Remember the 80s? Big hair, Dynasty, Huey Lewis was popular for some reason. Well, Judge Jed Rakoff remembers the 80s, and he also remembers the way the federal government used to actually investigate and prosecute people who committed massive financial crimes — Mike Milken, Ivan Boesky, Charles Keating, a bevy of other savings and loans… Keep reading →
Fed Throws Itself A Very Fed-Like Birthday Party
By By Jon Shazar, Dealbreaker
Before the Federal Open Market Committee began pretending to kick around the idea that maybe it might actually begin to cut its bond buys now, rather than, say, in the future, Ben Bernanke and co. threw themselves a little birthday party featuring the Beard’s only two surviving predecessors, to commemorate the signing of the bill… Keep reading →
Budget Deal Proves That Congress CAN Take On Military Pay & Benefits Costs
By By Russell Rumbaugh, for Breaking Defense
Health care for troops, retirees, and their families — or, as seen here, their pets — is a growing cost to the Defense Department. As bitter as the budget battle has become, there’s no topic more toxic than pay and benefits for military personnel. Pentagon budgeteers and the top brass warn that increasing compensation… Keep reading →