PORTLAND — Job growth in Maine will be flat in 2012 and employment won’t reach pre-recession levels until 2017, a top economist said Tuesday in pushing back his forecast by three years on when the state would fully recover from the economic downturn. In his annual Breakfast with Charlie economic outlook presentation, Charles Colgan said […]
economy
Posted inMaine
LePage opposes renewable energy mandate in Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage is urging residents not to sign a referendum petition aimed at requiring at least 20 percent of Maine’s electricity come from new renewable energy sources by 2020. In his weekly radio address Saturday, LePage says the Maine Citizens for Clean Energy Coalition is collecting signatures for a November […]
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Posted inBusiness, Maine, sj-web
Maine ship-modeling center to add jobs in 2012
BRUNSWICK, Maine (AP) — A high-tech ship-modeling organization that set up operations in Maine last summer plans to add 16 people to its payroll next year. The American Bureau of Shipping says it now has 30 employees at its modeling center, which opened last summer at Brunswick Landing, the former Brunswick Naval Air Station. In […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine foreclosure picture mixed
GARDINER, Maine (AP) — Maine banking regulators are reporting a mixed pattern of residential mortgage foreclosures as the economy continues to struggle. Bureau of Financial Institutions’ Superintendent Lloyd LaFountain III says a third quarter survey of mortgages held by Maine’s 32 state-chartered banks and credit unions continued to show mixed performance. So there’s no clear […]
Posted inBusiness, Maine, sj-web
Maine aims to build sustainable urchin fishery
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — During the heyday, Maine urchin fishermen harvested more than 40 million pounds of the spiny creatures a year. A move is now under way to jumpstart the industry, which has fallen on hard times and is just a skeleton of its former self. A panel made up of scientists, urchin harvesters […]
Posted inBusiness, Maine, sj-web
Heating oil costs drop 2 pennies in Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine’s average heating oil cost has dropped slightly over the past week as temperatures remained unseasonably warm. Maine energy officials say the average price in Tuesday’s oil dealer survey was $3.57 per gallon, which is down 2 pennies from last week. Ken Fletcher of the Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and […]
Posted inLetters
B. Wilner: ‘Middle class’ has disappeared
The last time I went to the dentist it was $200 for 12 minutes. I had an appointment early this week to fix a cavity that has been there a year. The office refused to see me because I did not have $200. I am 60 and have had health issues that caused me to […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
2012 Mortgage delinquencies seen dropping sharply
NEW YORK (AP) — If the U.S. economy does not suffer more setbacks, the rate of mortgage holders behind on their payments should decline significantly by the end of next year, according to credit reporting agency TransUnion. Mortgage delinquency rates — the ratio of borrowers 60 or more days behind on their payments — will […]
Posted inBusiness, Maine, sj-web
Maine home sales up 6.78% in October
SOUTH PORTLAND — Maine real estate market continues to show signs of improving. According to Maine Real Estate Information System (MREIS), a total of 945 homes were sold in October, an increase of 6.78% since October 2010. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported a nationwide sales increase of 13.8% over the past 12 months. […]
Posted inBusiness, Maine, sj-web
FAME loans $1 million for mill restart in Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Finance Authority of Maine says it has done its part to assist in the restart of one of the two paper mills in the Katahdin region. FAME’s board approved a direct loan of $1 million to assist as operations resume in East Millinocket, where about 215 workers have been recalled. […]