GF Business News: GFK boardings…Alerus & Recalls

The Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of prices fell last month, another sign that inflation is easing and that consumers should expect to see lower interest rates in 2024. Friday’s report from the Commerce Department showed that U.S. consumer prices slid 0.1% last month from October and rose 2.6% from November 2022. The month-over-month drop was the largest since April 2020 when the economy was reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP)

— — —

Commercial airline boarding numbers in North Dakota jumped 15% in November compared to one year ago. A total of 96,897 passengers took to the skies last month. It was the second-best November on record for airline passenger boardings in North Dakota. The all-time high was 102,517 in 2014. Boardings in Grand Forks climbed 8.6% in November. Year-to-date traffic at the GFK is up 7.26%.

— — —

A northwest Minnesota company is among seven to receive the Governor’s International Trade Award for their role in global trade and investment. DigiKey is an e-commerce distributor of electronic components and automation products that has been located in Thief River Falls since 1972. The company employs more than 5,000 people and delivers over 27,000 orders per day to customers in more than 180 countries around the world. In announcing the awards Governor Tim Walz said “International trade is a key driver in growing our economy and expanding our job market.”

— — —

The Alerus Center Commission has approved bids on a new Central Plant / Chiller replacement project. The low bid came in a $7.75 million dollars. That’s less than the budget estimate of $8.165 million. The work will take place in 2024 and will also increase storage space within the building. Savings from the $9.1 million dollar roof project will serve as a contingency fund for the chiller upgrades.

— — —

A closer look at Minnesota’s 2022 fatal work-injuries report suggests men accounted for 67 of the 81 deaths. There were 14 fatally injured female workers, double the number in 2021. More than one-quarter of worker fatalities were workers age 65 and older. The report compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor.

— — —

Honda is recalling more than 2.5 million vehicles in the U.S. due to a fuel pump defect that can increase risks of engine failure or stalling while driving. According to documents the fuel pump impeller used for a range of 2017-2020 Acura and Honda vehicles was improperly molded. The automaker will replace fuel pumps for all vehicles impacted by the recall at no cost with the first batch of owner notification letters going out in February. (AP)

— — —

Mark Watne of Velva has been reelected to an 11th one-year term as North Dakota Farmers Union president by more than 500 members and voting delegates attending the organization’s 97th annual state convention earlier this month in Bismarck. In other elections, Bob Kuylen of South Heart was reelected as NDFU vice president. Jon Iverson of Langdon retained his seat as District 1 director for Benson, Cavalier, Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina, Ramsey, Towner and Walsh counties.

— — —

Essentia Health has announced that Dr. Gratia Pitcher as our new chief medical officer. Dr. Pitcher has served as interim CMO since October and has been with Essentia in Fargo since 2015. Dr. Pitcher earned her medical degree from the Medical University of Ohio, which is now the University of Toledo.

— — —

The IRS says it’s going to waive penalty fees for people who failed to pay back taxes that total less than $100,000 a year for tax years 2020 or 2021. The agency says nearly 5 million people, businesses and tax-exempt organizations will be eligible for the relief, which totals about $1 billion. (AP)