Monday showed a rise of 1 percent on the price of oil, a result of a slowdown in the pace of drilling. One report stated that as much as $1.5 trillion worth of planned oil production was a poor economic choice in light of the current price of oil. The past year has shown a… Continue Reading
The Commerce Department released its latest figures for retail sale and restaurants, showing a rebound in September after a slow start to the year. The retail and restaurant sector posted a 0.2 percent monthly gain in August, and an annual increase to date of 2.2 percent. Analysts believe that retail sales improvement is all that… Continue Reading
The US job growth slowed in August, but the good news is that the unemployment rate dropped to an almost 7.5 year low and wages have accelerated. The Nonfarm payrolls increased 173,000 last month after a revised gain of 245,000 in July, according to the Labor Department. The payrolls data for June and July showed… Continue Reading
The Canadian dollar has not been this low, compared to the US dollar, since August 2004, falling to 75.27 US cents by the end of the trading day. The last day the loonie closed below 76 cents was just three weeks ago, on August 4, but today’s drop is lower still. According personal finance expert… Continue Reading
The shrinking exchange rate of the Canadian loonie compared to the US dollar is helping to push Americans to take vacations in the borders of their vast northern neighbor, where their dollars can buy more. The Canadian dollar fell to under 85 cents to the US dollar in January, and in July reached a low… Continue Reading
The National Federation of Small Businesses announced on Tuesday that its survey of 1,495 small businesses showed increased optimism during July. This measure represents an about face from its 15-month low reached in June. This data point joins other indicators, such as car sales, employment statistics and service provider information to show a slow but… Continue Reading
A study conducted by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, a trade group for the burgeoning drone industry, investigated what businesses are increasingly using drones to improve efficiency and the bottom line. Of the 500 first permits granted to drone operators by the Federal Aviation Administration, 153 were granted to drone operators who use… Continue Reading
Honeywell International, manufacturer of automation and control solutions products, announced it will buy Britain’s Melrose Industries’ utility consumption meter business. The deal is estimated to be valued at $5.14 billion. The purchase will help Honeywell to improve its presence in several high-growth regions. Shares of Melrose grew 6 percent in early Tuesday trading, making it… Continue Reading
Data from a new survey points to a growing shortage of skilled labor in the United States, paving the way for a rise in wages in the coming months. According to the National Association for Business Economics survey 35 percent of the 112 economists asked said that their companies had experienced a shortage of skilled… Continue Reading
Lack of progress on reaching an agreement with Canada on new guidelines for agricultural trade has frustrated the US to the point that negotiators are considering moving ahead without Canada. One observer explained that Canada is not moving forward to find a way to lower its barriers to agricultural trade in the context of creating… Continue Reading