The U.S. economy continues to experience slowing growth. Second quarter data for U.S. real GDP show an annualized growth rate of 1.5 percent, lower than the annualized rate of 2.0 percent during first quarter 2012. Consumer spending drove most of the gains, but was much lower than in first quarter. Business fixed investment and residential investment also made smaller … [Read more...] about September 2012: Business Indicators
Monthly Editorial Departments
August 2012: Around the State
Home Prices Up for Fifth Straight Month Statistics released by the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors (GLVAR) show existing home prices in June increased for the fifth straight month and supply of local homes listed for sale continues to tighten. The total number of homes, condominiums and townhomes sold in June was 3,945, which is down from the 4,134 in May. The median … [Read more...] about August 2012: Around the State
What the Obamacare Decision Means for State Policymakers: Court gives states the option of financing congressional scheme
Few decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court have captured the public interest as did its June opinion in NFIB v. Sebelius. This long-anticipated ruling was widely perceived as the final judicial test for one of the most controversial acts of Congress in decades: the Affordable Care Act (ACA), popularly known as Obamacare. The challenge centered on whether Congress has the … [Read more...] about What the Obamacare Decision Means for State Policymakers: Court gives states the option of financing congressional scheme
Industrial Summary: Second Quarter 2012
Las Vegas The Las Vegas Valley industrial market continues to face challenges, including elevated vacancies. The industrial sector reported a vacancy rate of 18.5 percent by the close of the second quarter of 2012. Net absorption during the quarter was negative 103,000 square feet, which represented a slower pace of out-migration of industrial product compared to the … [Read more...] about Industrial Summary: Second Quarter 2012
August 2012: Business Indicators
The U.S. economy continues to show signs of slow growth. Revised data show U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 1.9 percent during first quarter 2012, a substantial slowing from the fourth-quarter rate of 3.0 percent. Consumer spending drove most of the gains with business fixed investment, residential investment and inventories also making contributions. Government … [Read more...] about August 2012: Business Indicators
July 2012: Around the State
Nevada Healthcare Providers Receive Incentive Dollars for Electronic Health Records Under the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, administrated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), 369 providers in Nevada have received $15,316,668 in … [Read more...] about July 2012: Around the State
Margins Tax Mayhem: Unions’ Tax Initiative Would Devastate Small, Struggling Businesses
In a long-anticipated move, the hard-left union bosses of the Nevada AFL-CIO and the state teachers union marked D-Day this year by launching another assault against Silver State businesses. A ballot initiative filed by the unions would ask lawmakers to hammer businesses with a new margins tax and then earmark the money to directly benefit the unions. The margins tax — … [Read more...] about Margins Tax Mayhem: Unions’ Tax Initiative Would Devastate Small, Struggling Businesses
Retail Summary: First Quarter 2012
Las Vegas The Las Vegas retail market reported a slight decline in vacancies for the second consecutive quarter. While new pre-leased inventory largely held the vacancy rate down at 10.5 percent, the market recorded 203,300 square feet of positive net absorption during the first quarter of 2012. The latest market performance reflects the 12th consecutive quarter in which the … [Read more...] about Retail Summary: First Quarter 2012
July 2012: Business Indicators
The U.S. economy is showing signs of slowing growth. Revised data show U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 1.9 percent during first quarter 2012, which represents a substantial slowing from the fourth-quarter rate of 3.0 percent. Business fixed investment, residential investment and inventories also made positive contributions. Government spending and net exports made … [Read more...] about July 2012: Business Indicators
June 2012: Around the State
Republic Services Unveils Renewable Energy Facility Republic Services and Energenic have unveiled the Apex landfill renewable energy generating facility. The facility is expected to generate enough electricity to power over 10,000 homes in Southern Nevada. NV Energy has entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement for the sale of energy produced from the 12-megawatt … [Read more...] about June 2012: Around the State
The West Fires Back: Utah takes land-rights issue to next level … Will Nevada be next?
Some will call it an ultimatum. It is. But an ultimatum is often necessary when one party refuses to recognize the constitutional rights of another. And that’s why Utah Gov. Gary Herbert recently signed into law legislation challenging the federal government’s authority to occupy state lands. Utah’s HB 148, the Transfer of Public Lands Act, sets a hard deadline — Dec. 31, … [Read more...] about The West Fires Back: Utah takes land-rights issue to next level … Will Nevada be next?
Office Summary: First Quarter 2012
Las Vegas The office sector continues to remain fragile with further reductions in pricing amid relatively little change in the vacancy rate. The vacancy rate remained flat from the prior quarter at 25.2 percent (13.1 million square feet) by the close of the first quarter of 2012. On a year-over-year basis, the vacancy rate has increased 1.5 percentage points. Despite one … [Read more...] about Office Summary: First Quarter 2012
June 2012: Business Indicators
U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 2.2 percent during first quarter 2012, representing a substantial slowing from the fourth-quarter rate of 3.0 percent. Government spending, business fixed investment and net exports made negative contributions. U.S. nonfarm employment rose by only 115,000 jobs in April, marking the weakest gain since August 2011. Consumer sentiment … [Read more...] about June 2012: Business Indicators
May 2012: Around the State
The Learning Center Offers “Green” Computing Classes The Learning Center has entered into a training agreement with the Nevada State Energy Sector Partnership to offer “Green IT” classes to employers at no cost. The training is offered under a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Division for the purpose of improving existing worker skills through … [Read more...] about May 2012: Around the State
Inflated Salaries Revealed: More than 1,000 government employees made over $200,000 in total compensation in 2011
Pop quiz time. Who made more in base pay in 2011: Gov. Brian Sandoval — at $143,426.25 — or the parks director for the City of Reno? Who made more in base pay in 2011: Any of Clark County’s 15 top-paid senior attorneys or Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, who earned $140,389.37? Finally, who made more in base pay in 2011: Gov. Brian Sandoval or the building and … [Read more...] about Inflated Salaries Revealed: More than 1,000 government employees made over $200,000 in total compensation in 2011