U.S. Home Construction Up Moderate 3.6% in May
by Martin Crutsinger, The Associated Press – 6 days ago
U.S. home construction rose 3.6% in May as builders battled a surge in lumber prices that have made homes more expensive.
U.S. home construction rose 3.6% in May as builders battled a surge in lumber prices that have made homes more expensive.
Ransomware computer crimes have been around for a number of years, but recent attacks have put them squarely in the headlines.
Retail sales fell in May, dragged down by a decline in auto sales and a shift by Americans to spend more on vacations and other services instead of goods.
Monthly business applications in Arkansas and elsewhere in the United States jumped during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, as businesses shut down and employees were thrown out of work and left to their own devices. read more >
Mortgage rates were mostly lower this week as the economy continued to show signs of recovery from the pandemic recession and recent bursts of inflation were deemed temporary by federal policymakers. read more >
The annual mean wage for lawyers in Arkansas in May 2020, the latest figures available, was $94,800, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. read more >
What should private businesses in Arkansas consider when offering incentives to employees to get COVID-19 vaccinations? read more >
U.S. employers posted a record 9.3 million job openings in April with the U.S. economy reopening at break-neck speed. read more >
City and county collections would have suffered during the pandemic had the tax laws continued to favor out-of-state online retailers over brick-and-mortar stores. read more >
When it comes to money, particularly public money, priorities are essential. Setting a goal and laying a plan to achieve a specific outcome require priorities, participation, patience and proceeds. read more >
The adoption of home broadband varies by demographics, including community type: urban, suburban and rural. read more >
The economy in nine Midwest and Plains states remains strong in the wake of a devastating global pandemic. read more >
Most of the women running the biggest U.S. companies saw their pay increase last year, even as the pandemic hammered the economy and many of their businesses. read more >
Across the country, boards of directors made changes to the intricate formulas that determine CEO pay — and other moves — that helped make up for losses created by the COVID-19 crisis. read more >
Americans increased their spending by 0.5% in April, a slowdown after a massive gain in March that had been powered by the distribution of billions of dollars in individual stimulus checks. read more >
The U.S. housing market has gotten so out of whack, with demand far outpacing supply, that prices have risen to record levels and roughly half of all U.S. houses are selling for above their list price. read more >
Consumer confidence ticked down slightly in May but remains nearly as high as it's been since the pandemic began. read more >
Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale reported 2,866 COVID-19 cases at its workplaces. read more >
Being able to watch LeBron James shoot is not the same as owning his actual shot. It's not even like owning an autograph or a game ball. read more >
Arkansas' unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.4% from March and April. read more >
When it comes to new mask guidelines, employers are in the best position to evaluate the needs of their business and the potential risks to their employees, vendors and customers. read more >
You might not realize that COVID-19 wasn't the only driver of the national spike in deaths last year. Deaths from opioid overdoses roared to more than 7,200 in May 2020 and remained well above pre-pandemic levels thereafter. read more >
The number of people Arkansas will send to the U.S. House of Representatives remains unchanged at four, based on the results of the 2020 U.S. Census. read more >
Absolute certainty is largely elusive, so we do our best to mitigate risks, chart trends, analyze data, consult experts, assemble teams, strategize, listen to our gut and sometimes cross our fingers. read more >
As energy use surges with a rebounding economy, coal is making a nominal comeback in electricity generation as utilities adjust to costlier natural gas. read more >
With so many companies hiring at the same time, the best workers have options. read more >
The population of Arkansas grew 3.3% between 2010 and 2020, to 3,013,756 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. read more >
The state Department of Finance and Administration says April net available general revenue was $779.6 million, $242.4 million above April 2019 and $166.9 million — or 27.2% — above forecast. read more >
The coronavirus pandemic pushed the unemployment rate in the United States to near record highs and caused millions of workers to leave the workforce, and a year later, the labor market remains far from recovery. read more >
Misplaced trust is a common theme in the fraud cases I've observed over the past two decades, as is the failure to make simple, routine checks. read more >
So, who wants to be a millionaire when there are billionaires? read more >
The Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021, or PRO Act, has greater potential than any other recent legislation to impact all labor-dependent businesses. read more >
The commercial real estate market remained strong in Benton and Washington counties in the second of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest Arvest Bank Skyline Report. read more >
