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No. 1: Austin-Round Rock, Texas
Of the 10 large cities with the best employment prospects, Austin is the leader. Job growth between 2004 and 2008 was a whopping 14.8%–and even between 2007 and 2008, overall growth remained in the black. In some areas, Austin is representative of nationwide changes in employment. For example, manufacturing […]

Over the past five years, Michael Shires, associate professor in public policy at Pepperdine University, and I have been compiling a list of the best places to do business. The list, based on job growth in regions across the U.S. over the long, middle and short term, has changed over the years — but the […]

With little economic news released during the week, and with a Fed meeting and large Treasury auctions scheduled for next week, mortgage rates moved very little this week. Fed purchases of mortgage-backed securities (MBS) during the week were at average levels. Treasury yields and the stock market also were little changed ahead of next week’s […]

Source of many foods difficult to trace, says DHHS study

Only five of 40 food products purchased for a study on food safety could be traced through each stage of the food supply chain back to the farm or border, according to a study released recently by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. […]

 Did you catch the frumpy 47-year old Susan
Boyle on her audition for Britain’s version
of American Idol?
If not, it may be the best seven minutes you’ll
spend this year.  Check it out: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY
She’s middle aged, triple-chinned, eyebrows
that look like dead caterpillars, never been
kissed by a man… everyone just knew this
Gong-Show reject was going to bomb. 
I had to give […]

Businesses rally against CPSIA

We’ve reported many times on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, a vital new law that helps ensure the safety of children’s products and revitalizes the beleaguered Consumer Product Safety Commission.  The Act was signed into law last August by then-President George W. Bush after receiving overwhelming bipartisan support […]

March 19, 2009

Chinese-made drywall causing home and health hazards

A gut-turning smell like rotten eggs hit Richard and Partricia Kampf the day they first walked into their new house in Cape Coral, Florida, in July 2007. At first they thought it was some kind of “new home” smell that would go away quickly. Patricia bought […]