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Business/Economy

  • Unemployment aid requests fall to near 3-year low

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people requesting unemployment benefits last week plunged to a nearly three-year low, bolstering likelihood that companies will increase the pace of hiring this year.

    Applications for unemployment benefits fell by 20,000 to a seasonally adjusted 368,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. It was the third decline in the last four weeks. Applications are now at their lowest level since May 2008.

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  • NM House narrowly approves $5 billion state budget

    SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The House narrowly approved a proposed budget on Wednesday that cuts state spending by nearly 3 percent next year and uses savings from public employee pensions and film subsidies to balance the financing blueprint for public education and government programs.

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  • Los Alamos Co-op Market open for business

    The Los Alamos Co-op Market opened for business at noon Wednesday. It was a “soft” opening to allow for final details to be completed before the official grand opening, which will be announced soon.

    The co-op will be open 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.

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  • Bernanke: Rising oil prices pose threat to economy

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress Tuesday that a prolonged rise in oil prices would pose a danger to the economy. But he said a more likely outcome is a temporary and modest increase in consumer prices, not runaway inflation.

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  • NM spaceport gets new executive director

    SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Spaceport Authority's board of directors has named a retired Air Force civilian official as the spaceport's next executive director.

    Gov. Susana Martinez's office announced Christine Anderson's appointment Monday. Anderson previously served for 30 years in civilian positions with the Air Force, including several years at Kirtland Air Force Base.

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  • House OKs 70% unemployment tax hike on businesses

    SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The House has approved a bill to increase taxes on businesses and trim jobless benefits to shore up the state unemployment compensation program.

    The measure raises taxes in January 2012 and will trim some benefits starting this summer.

    If nothing is done by the Legislature, the unemployment fund is projected to become insolvent early next year.

    The fund is being drained because of high unemployment — 8.5 percent in December.

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  • Stocks mixed as oil rises, jobless claims fall

    NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks wavered between gains and losses Thursday as investors weighed good news on the job market against increasingly violent protests in Libya.

    The Labor Department said fewer people applied for unemployment benefits last week, a sign that the job market is recovering. The four-week average for applications, a figure closely watched by financial analysts, fell to the lowest level in more than two and a half years.

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  • Local business to be recognized at NM SBDC Day

    Of the 21 firms to be honored during the 13th Annual New Mexico Small Business Development Center Day, which will be held Friday, there will be a familiar name recognized.
    Paul Terp and Lee Bernstein of Strategic Management Solutions, LLC will be among the outstanding business clients recognized. Strategic Management Solutions is a client of the UNM-Los Alamos SBDC.
    Incoming NMSBDC State Director Michael A. Rivera chose the firms. He said, “This day honors the hard work and dedication of all small business in the state of New Mexico.”

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  • House works on trimming film incentives

    SANTA FE — Lawmakers are trying to reach a compromise with Republican Gov. Susana Martinez on a $5.4 billion state budget and a proposal to trim the state’s film incentives, House Speaker Ben Lujan said Tuesday.
    Lujan said a proposal is being developed to limit the amount of subsidies provided yearly for film production in the state. There also could be new restrictions on the type of film expenditures that qualify for a tax break. The film subsidies cost the state about $65 million last year.

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  • Unions rally at NM Capitol, object to budget cuts

    SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Labor unions are flexing their political muscle in New Mexico against proposed budget cuts and in defense of collective bargaining rights.

    Several hundred people rallied at the Capitol on Tuesday in support of union workers in Wisconsin, which are protesting a plan by the Republican governor to roll back public employees' rights to negotiate benefits and working conditions.

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