Archive for March 2011
AGC releases plan to stimulate construction industry
The Associated General Contractors of America has released a new plan to stimulate demand for construction. The plan, “Building a Stronger Future, A New Blueprint for Economic Growth,” outlines measures to help spur private sector …
Read MoreSigned Lease Transactions (Week of March 13)
Midwest Project Partners Inc. has leased 1,093 square feet of space at 1603 22nd St. in West Des Moines. The tenant was represented by Judy Patterson and Ed Urbanek, both of Iowa Realty Commercial. The landlord, …
Read MoreProducer prices on the rise
Wholesale prices rose in February at the fastest pace in 1 1/2 years, indicating a build-up in inflation pressures from rising food and energy costs, Reuters reported.
The seasonally adjusted index for prices paid to …
Report: Iowa State grad programs among nation’s best
Six Iowa State University programs are among the top 20 in their categories in the United States, according to rankings published by U.S. News and World Report magazine. The university’s biological and agricultural engineering program …
Read MoreUnlocking social media metrics
Updated 2:46 p.m.
Jay Baer, a social media strategist and founder of five companies, will share insights on how marketers can successfully quantify value and success of social media to their companies and clients. Baer, …
Corn futures rise amid crisis in Japan
Japan, the largest importer of U.S. corn, may need to purchase more to guarantee food supplies following last week’s devastating earthquake and tsunami. Corn, wheat and soybean futures rose on speculation that Japan will ratchet …
Read MoreGDP view cut following amid housing data
A 22.5 percent slump in housing starts during February has cut short economists’ expectations of first-quarter economic growth, MarketWatch reported. Analysts at the Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc cut their forecast for an increase …
Read MoreImport costs jump as commodity prices soar
The cost of goods imported into the United States increased more than forecast in February as commodity prices soared, Bloomberg reported.
The 1.4 percent increase in the import-price index exceeded the 0.9 percent median estimate …
Read MoreTech purchases drive up business spending
Driven largely by sales of computers and software, U.S. business purchases last year exceeded pre-recession levels, according to a report by The NPD Group Inc., a New York-based consumer research firm.
The Kansas City Business …
Read MoreGreater Des Moines Partnership announces Newton affiliate
The board of the Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce has voted to join the
Greater Des Moines Partnership as an affiliate, the Partnership said today. The new affiliation, which was formally announced this morning …