WASHINGTON — The weakening U.S. economy spilled into the job market in March as employers added only 126,000 jobs — the fewest since December 2013 — snapping a streak of 12 straight months of gains above 200,000. The Labor Department said Friday that the unemployment rate remained at 5.5 percent. Friday’s jobs report raised uncertainties […]
economy
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
U.S. economy adds 295,000 jobs in February
WASHINGTON — U.S. employers extended a healthy streak of hiring in February by adding 295,000 jobs, the 12th straight monthly gain above 200,000. It was the latest sign that the U.S. economy is further strengthening and outpacing other major economies around the world. The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 5.5 percent from 5.7 percent, the […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine’s economy drops in Business Insider rankings
PORTLAND — Did you feel something Wednesday? Like the condition of Maine’s economy worsening? Well, the business news website and aggregator Business Insider did, dropping Maine in its rank of state economies to 49th. While Maine’s dawdling around in the lower rungs of the website’s ranking may present general cause for concern, the drop in […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
U.S. economy adds 257,000 jobs in January
WASHINGTON — U.S. employers added a vigorous 257,000 jobs in January, and wages jumped by the most in six years — evidence that the job market is accelerating closer to full health. The surprisingly robust report the government issued Friday also showed that hiring was far stronger in November and December than it had previously […]
Posted inMaine
LePage budget plan reforms Maine tax policy
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage on Friday made good on his promise to “go after” Maine income taxes in his next two-year budget. LePage’s 2016-17 spending plan for state government includes sweeping reforms to Maine’s tax policy, dramatically changing the sources of state revenue from the income tax to a broader and higher sales tax. The […]
Posted inMaine
LePage launches second term with promises of job growth and a stronger economy
AUGUSTA — Paul LePage launched his second term as Maine’s governor Wednesday with robust promises to create jobs and improve the state’s long-flagging economy. He also vowed to tackle the state’s income tax, saying his vision was a Maine without an income tax. “We want Mainers to know prosperity and not poverty,” LePage said. He […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lower prices prompting smiles at the pumps
Falling gas prices State average for a gallon of regular on Dec. 29: $2.475 Lewiston-Auburn metro average on Dec. 29: $2.41 National average on Dec. 29: $2.27 State average one month ago: $2.92 State average one year ago: $3.53 For more information: http://fuelgaugereport.aaa.com/states/maine/ Source: AAA of Northern New England LEWISTON — Gas was $2.26 a […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Restaurants: Many going out this New Year’s Eve
LEWISTON — If you’re going out for New Year’s Eve, you may want to make reservations. Mild weather, an improved economy and falling gas prices mean more people will ring in 2015 by going out on the town, local restaurateurs say. “Right now, we’ve got 300 people” for Sea40’s New Year’s Eve Bash, said hostess […]
Posted inBusiness
Maine’s economy struggles as paper industry stumbles
Parts of Maine’s proud paper industry stumbled this year, hammering home the challenges of competition from abroad and the difficulty of unlocking new markets for papermaking byproducts. Verso intends to sell its Bucksport mill for scrap and Great Northern Paper’s East Millinocket mill is headed for the hands of a redeveloper. Those stories illustrate part […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
King, Pingree urge federal government to buy more Maine blueberries
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Angus King and Maine’s 1st District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree are urging the federal government to purchase more of their state’s blueberry crop. The lawmakers have written to the U.S. Department of Agriculture asking the department to buy 18 million pounds of frozen Maine wild blueberries to use in school lunch and […]