Economic Development

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A down economy? Not for college sports

Donations to the largest college sports programs climbed as the U.S. economy faltered, with contributions rising 24 percent from the middle of 2006 to the middle of 2010, Bloomberg reported.

The 54 public schools in …

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August inflation up more than forecast

The cost of living in the United States rose more than forecast in August as consumers paid more for food, energy and housing, Bloomberg reported.

The Consumer Price Index, which measures the average prices of …

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More start-ups doesn’t mean more jobs

New businesses are getting off the ground with nearly half as many workers as they did a decade ago, as the spread of online tools and other resources enables start-ups to do more with less, …

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Only 20 percent of Americans think country is on right course

Americans’ pessimism about the economy has deepened and confidence in both political parties has fallen, as only 20 percent of people said the country is on the right course, Bloomberg reported.

Just 9 percent of …

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Small business confidence at 13-month low

Confidence among U.S. small businesses dropped to a 13-month low in August as fewer companies projected better economic conditions and improving sales, Bloomberg reported. 

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) optimism index decreased to …

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Poverty rate up in 2010

The number of Americans living below the poverty line rose to a record 46 million last year, Reuters reported.

The Census Bureau’s annual report on income, poverty and health insurance coverage said the national poverty …

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Obama jobs plan: A look at the impact on Iowa

The Obama admistration released its jobs plan today and outlined in a press release the impact it would have on Iowa.

Here’s a look at some of plan’s intended impacts on Iowa:

The plan will…
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Business economists are glum

Economics experts who participated in a survey think the U.S. economy will grow less than previously estimated through 2012, reflecting a slump in confidence, limited consumer spending and a struggling housing market, Bloomberg reported.

The …

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Xmas cheer(less)

Most Americans expect to spend less or the same on the holidays this year compared with last year, according to a survey released today.

A whopping 82 percent of those surveyed by America’s Research Group …

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Jobless claims reflect struggling labor market

Initial claims for U.S. unemployment benefits rose last week, a sign that the labor market is struggling to gain traction, Bloomberg reported.

First-time claims rose by 2,000 to 414,000 in the week ended Sept. 3, …