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UO E-clips, Feb. 5
Top stories for February 5, 2009: Salem's Statesman-Journal is among several media outlets reporting on Tim Duy's monthly Index of Economic Indicators that says the state's recession has deepened; the Oregon Food Bank is besieged with record-level requests, reports the Statesman-Journal, again quoting from Duy and the Economic Index; a book by the UO's Lauren Kessler is the buzz in Lake Oswego, reports the Lake Oswego Review; and the UO's Lynn Kahle is quoted by the Washington Post in a story titled 'Old appetites die hard'
Oregon's recession deepens (Statesman Journal): Oregon's economy continues to slide deeper into the recession. The University of Oregon's Index of Economic Indicators -- a sampling of economic data such as unemployment claims and building permits -- shows widespread problems. Labor markets in Oregon "are slowing at a frightening rate," UO economist Timothy Duy said. Initial unemployment claims in December rose to a weekly average of 15,000.
Economist predicts more Oregon layoffs this year (Associated Press): University of Oregon economist Tim Duy predicts job losses in Oregon will increase significantly at least through the first half of this year. Duy, who compiles the monthly U of O index of economic indicators, said Wednesday that six of the seven indicators he watches deteriorated in December. He said manufacturing orders, payrolls and residential building permits were down as was trucking activity. Initial jobless claims increased. The latest figures put Oregon unemployment at 9 percent, the highest in more than two decades. He says labor markets in Oregon are slowing at a "frightening rate." The state has lost nearly 47,000 jobs in the past year.
Food bank gets more requests (Statesman Journal): The Oregon Food Bank is dealing with a record level of requests for emergency food. They say the numbers are driven by the economic fallout, and they doubt the increased demand will let up any time soon. … What's more, a professor at University of Oregon says he expects job losses to "increase significantly" during the first half of this year. Economist Tim Duy, who compiles the monthly U of O index of economic indicators, released his December 2008 report Wednesday in which he reports six of the seven indicators he watches deteriorated in December.
Meet Lauren Kessler, the woman behind the book (Lake Oswego Review): “Stubborn Twig” is all the buzz in Lake Oswego this month, and on Feb. 11 the community will have the opportunity to meet the woman behind the pages. … The founder and editor of “Etude,” an online magazine of narrative nonfiction, she also directs the graduate program in literary nonfiction at the University of Oregon.
Old appetites die hard (Washington Post): Paula O'Rourke always keeps peanut butter crackers in the car for her children to snack on. The Bethesda mother of three had just bought a new supply when she heard the product had been recalled because of a risk of salmonella poisoning. … The modern distribution system is so complex and confusing that consumers might believe that taking action would be nearly impossible, says Lynn Kahle, a consumer psychologist at the University of Oregon.