UO E-clips, Aug. 5

Index suggests Oregon economy steady in June (Associated Press): A monthly University of Oregon economic index suggests the state is in a mild recession even though the economy held steady in June. University economist Tim Duy says his index of economic indicators rose 0.4 percent last month. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 1,600 jobs, the first employment increase after three consecutive declines. Among the eight indicators used to compile the index, seven either held steady or improved with only one decline, and that was weak U.S. consumer confidence. But compared to six months ago, the index is down 3.2 percent on an annualized basis -- a decline that Duy says is consistent with at least a mild recession.

Folklore gets it wrong on love matches (New Scientist): When it comes to relationships, we are often told that opposites attract. Now, a study suggests couples stay together longer if they share some common ground. Beatrice Rammstedt of the Centre for Survey Research and Methodology in Mannheim, Germany, and Jürgen Schupp of the German Institute for Economic Research in Berlin looked at the "big five" personality traits in over 6000 couples in Germany. ... Fear not if your partner's personality clashes with your own, though. Sanjay Srivastava, a psychologist at the University of Oregon in Eugene, offers an alternative explanation: "Perhaps the longer couples stay together, the more they grow alike."