Consumers spent a bit more in August than the previous month, a sign the economy is holding up even as inflation lifts prices for food, rent, and other essentials. Americans boosted their spending at stores and for services such as haircuts by 0.4% in August, after it fell 0.2% in July, the Commerce Department.
Battered by surging consumer prices and rising interest rates, the U.S. economy shrank at a 0.6% annual rate from April through June, the government announced Thursday, unchanged from its previous second-quarter estimate. It marked the second consecutive quarter of economic contraction, one informal rule of thumb for a recession.
Grand Forks collected a record $3.45 million dollars in local sales taxes in the September payment. That beat the previous all-time high of $3.3 million set in February. That pushes the year-to-date tally to $23.1 million dollars – an increase of 9.19 over the same time one-year ago. Finance officials say recent events attracting out-of-town guests may have bolstered the numbers. Hotel occupancy in September was up 17% during the collection period.
The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits dropped last week, a sign that few companies are cutting jobs despite high inflation and a weak economy. Applications for unemployment benefits for the week ending Sept. 24 fell by 16,000 to 193,000. Last week’s number was revised down by 4,000 to 209,000. First-time applications generally reflect layoffs.
The August unemployment rate for Grand Forks County remains under two-percent. The jobless rate of 1.9% compares to 2.5% one year ago. A total of 723 people were in search of work last month.
Cirrus Aircraft has announced plans to expand its maintenance facility in Duluth into a center for innovation. The 189,000 square foot building sits on 39 acres of land. Cirrus operates in seven locations in the United States including Grand Forks.
UND expects to break ground next spring on an addition to the Fritz Pollard Jr. Athletic Center. It’s part of the master facility plan for UND Athletics that was announced during Homecoming Week. The addition would be connected to Memorial Village via indoor “Hawkway.” It would also provide new locker rooms for cross country, football, softball and track and field…a state-of-the-art weight room…new sports medicine/treatment areas…and replaces the turf and track on current Memorial Field .
The Center for Digital Government has released the results of its 2022 Digital State Survey. The evaluation is intended to assign a letter grade to the IT practices of all 50 states. Minnesota was among six states scoring an “A” in the analysis. North Dakota received a “B+” ranking.
Altru Health Foundation raised over $395,000 dollars at its recent Altru Gala at the REA. The funds will help establish a new patient program with Outpatient Therapy Services called Sensory Life Project. It targets individuals of all ages with sensory processing difficulties.
A new Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) grant is helping 44 Minnesota service stations offer customers more and greener options at the pump. The Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Biofuels Infrastructure Grant Program is awarding over $6.4 million to offset the cost of investing in upgraded retail petroleum dispensers, fuel storage tanks, and other equipment compatible with motor fuel containing higher blends of ethanol.
This Thanksgiving, your pumpkin pie might have a lower carbon footprint. Farmers in central Illinois who supply 85% of the world’s canned pumpkin are adopting regenerative techniques to reduce emissions, attract bees and other pollinators and improve soil health. The effort is backed by Libby’s, which is owned by Nestle. It’s one of several big companies that have started regenerative farming programs in the last few years, including General Mills, PepsiCo and Walmart.
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