America’s employers added 315,000 jobs in August. Friday’s report from the government also showed that the unemployment rate rose to 3.7%, up from a half-century low of 3.5%. The increase in jobs was reflected a long-awaited rise in the number of Americans who came off the sidelines and started looking for work.
Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates rose to their highest level in two months this week, providing no relief for a slumping housing market. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year rate rose to 5.66% from 5.55% last week. One year ago, the rate stood at 2.87%.
Home sales slipped slightly in Grand Forks / East Grand Forks in August. According to the Grand Forks Area Association of Realtors suggests 87 sales of single family homes and townhomes were finalized last month. That compares to 97 one year ago and 103 in August 2020. The average sales price was $254,268 dollars.
A new analysis ranks North Dakota #1 in terms of hardest-working states in the U.S. The financial website WalletHub examined ten metrics in ranking each state. Those ranged from workweek hours and employment to average commute time. North Dakota ranked high in hours worked and unused vacation time. Minnesota was ranked #18. Link: https://wallethub.com/edu/hardest-working-states-in-america/52400
Fundraising is underway for a new flight operations building at the Grand Forks Airport. The proposed building will function as a centerpiece for students and flight instructors at the John D. Odegaard School of Aerospace Sciences. The final price tag has yet to be settled, though the project is expected to take 18 months.
Best Buy posted declines in fiscal second-quarter profits and sales as the nation’s largest consumer electronics chain struggled with weakening consumer demand for gadgets and high costs that rippled through its supply chain. But the results were above analysts’ expectations, helping boost the stock. Best Buy reported that net income fell 60% to $306 million for the three-month period ended July 30.
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said that applications are now being accepted for reimbursement of organic certification costs through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program for fiscal year 2022. Organic farmers can receive up to $500 of the organic certification costs paid between Oct. 1, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2022. Goehring says certification assures consumers that products are produced by recognized organic methods.
The North Dakota Department of Health has successfully completed a review process to maintain national accreditation status through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). The accreditation status is good for another five years.
The former Macy’s store in the Columbia Mall may be a future home for the Riverside Christian School. Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski says he’s had conversations with a group pushing the plan. Bochenski says it’s important for the school to complete its due diligence before making an official announcement.
With building permits secured developers have started construction on The Grove retail center in south Grand Forks. The three building design will range in size from 1,800 sq of space to 15,600 sq feet along the 4000 block of South Washington. The construction price-tag is pegged at $5.4 million dollars.
The North Dakota Department of Transportation has added two new languages to the online driver’s license knowledge testing service. The languages include Dari and Pashto. There are now 14 languages available online for customers to choose from. The online test costs $10 and customers will need access to a computer with a keyboard, mouse, and camera to take the test. Tablets and smartphones are not supported.
The Electric Power Research Institute has appointed North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak to a three-year term on its advisory council. EPRI is an independent non-profit energy research, development, and deployment organization.
Ford is recalling nearly 200,000 large SUVs because the heating and cooling fan motors can fail and catch fire. The recall covers Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators from the 2015 through 2017 model years.
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