Perfect Business!

Looking for takeoff in U.S. jobs

Written on April 17, 2012 – 5:02 am | by Ashley Johnson

– Sorting out trends in the U.S. labor market is tricky business these days.

There is plenty of evidence to support the view that unemployment is stalled at 8.3 percent for much of the year, and a case to argue that job growth is poised for takeoff.

Three interlocking factors are seen in play – the pace of productivity gains, size of the labor force and the outlook for GDP growth. Dial any one factor up and it can change the jobs outlook significantly.

The consensus for March employment data out on Friday is that 201,000 new jobs were added outside the farm sector, a downshift from the 245,000 average monthly pace the United States has enjoyed since December. This would hold the jobless rate around its current rate of 8.3 percent, unless a surge of people who had been discouraged flood back into the labor market again and again start looking for work.

The optimistic school of economists forecast that job gains could be as high as 275,000 in March and reach 300,000 new jobs a month by later this year.

Ian Shepherdson, chief U.S.

Read more…

Posted in Business News | No Comments »

The second life of an earmark: 5 years later, Destiny finds a new use for Washington’s $1.7 million handout

Written on April 16, 2012 – 5:01 am | by Stephanie Brodribb

The second life of an earmark: 5 years later, Destiny finds a new use for Washington’s $1.7 million handout In February 2003, former U.S. Rep. James Walsh used his influence as a senior congressman to secure $1.7 million in federal tax dollars to help with the Carousel Center expansion known as Destiny USA.

Congress approved the spending without public debate. The money was intended to help clean up toxic soil buried under the malls parking lot, making way for the planned Grand Destiny Hotel, Walsh said when he announced the grant.

Now, nine years later, there is no hotel. No contaminated dirt has been removed. It remains buried under the parking lot.

Destiny USAs developers didnt return Walshs earmark. Instead, executives found a new way to spend the tax money, this time on environmentally-friendly technology.

Destiny spent $562,000 for a rainwater harvest system to flush toilets with rain and melting snow collected from its roof.

Read more…

Tags: Handout, Million Handout, New Use

Posted in Business Zone | No Comments »

Ammunition business leads the way for Alliant

Written on April 8, 2012 – 9:58 pm | by Stephanie Brodribb

With a workforce that has doubled in the past decade, the Federal Cartridge plant in Anoka owes its growth to those who own firearms for hunting, sport shooting and, more than ever, personal protection.

About 1,400 people at the sprawling complex produce everything from low-caliber ammunition for weekend warriors to powerful cartridges for safari hunters. The shotgun shells area alone turns out more than 40 million rounds a month, an increase of about 20 percent from last year.

Federal Cartridge is the centerpiece of Alliant Techsystems’ commercial division, whose plants nationwide make 21 brands of ammunition and accessories like holsters for non-military customers.

For the last few years, commercial ammunition has been Alliant’s fastest-growing business, fueled in part by Americans’ increased concern over their safety and fears that stricter gun control laws could be ahead, company officials say. The segment’s performance has helped Alliant offset declines in its aerospace and defense segments due to federal budget cuts and the end of the U.S.

Read more…

Posted in Business Zone | No Comments »

Perth Airport scores well on ACCC review

Written on April 6, 2012 – 4:35 pm | by Ashley Johnson

Perth Airport has welcomed a review released today by the competition watchdog, which showed Perth was among the nation’s cheapest airports for car parking and international charges.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission released its annual monitoring report on the performance of airports across the nation today, comparing prices for services provided to airlines, financial performance and quality of service.

According to the report, passenger numbers at Perth Airport increased from 10.5 million in 2009-10 to 11.5 million in 2010-11, while aircraft movements increased by 9.2 per cent over the same period.

The report found passengers rated Perth Airport ‘good’ in terms of quality of service, second only to Brisbane.

The report also found Perth Airport’s international charges were the lowest in Australia, and around 40 per cent below the overseas sample average.

For car parking, Perth Airport’s one-hour parking costs $5.60, compared to $4.00 in Adelaide, $15.00 in Sydney and $12.00 in Melbourne, the report said.

“We have a strong focus on keeping our airport charges as low as we can,” Perth Airport chief executive Brad Geatches said.

“The results from this year’s ACCC report recognise the significant investment we are undertaking and I am particularly pleased with our results relating to the passenger experience and our overall car parking results, which indicate we are among the lowest in the country for pricing and highest for availability.”

Tags: Perth Airport, Review

Posted in Business News | No Comments »

Dems casting Mass. Sen. Brown as ‘Big Oil’ friend

Written on April 6, 2012 – 3:10 pm | by Michael Harris

BOSTON — Democrats are opening up a new line of attack on U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, casting the Massachusetts Republican as a high-powered friend of Big Oil at a time of rising gasoline prices.

Browns chief Democratic rival, Elizabeth Warren, is pointing to Browns vote Thursday against a Democratic measure that would have ended $4 billion in tax subsidies to oil companies.

Democrats note that the industry has pumped nearly $200,000 into Browns campaign. The industrys main lobbying group also ran ads recently urging voters to ask Brown to oppose measures the industry said would raise taxes on energy producers.

Brown defended his vote, saying ending subsidies wont bring down gas prices. H

Read more…

Tags: Friend

Posted in Perfect Small Business | No Comments »