YORK, Maine (AP) — The strong Canadian dollar has Maine and New Hampshire businesses confident that they’ll be seeing plenty of Canadian tourists this summer. With the Canadian dollar now worth about $1.04 in U.S. money, businesses say interest is high from north of the border for the upcoming tourism season. Gary Grossman, the owner […]
economy
Posted inBusiness, Maine, sj-web
Solid lobster catch foreseen, but fuel prices loom
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — On the heels of last year’s record-shattering catch, another bountiful lobster harvest is expected this year in Maine. But the outlook for the upcoming season is being tempered by high fuel costs, high bait costs and a still-fragile economy. Maine fishermen last year caught more than 90 million pounds of lobster, […]
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Posted inUncategorized
Living in smaller spaces
With many smaller spaces planned for renovations and new homes, most who plan to live in them are moving from larger homes and are faced with challenges like finding smaller furniture and understanding how to make the most of fewer, smaller rooms. In some cases, an open concept is new to people who are accustomed […]
Posted inBusiness, Franklin, The Franklin Journal
Wilton service center workers face layoffs
WILTON — Some employees at Sykes Enterprises Inc. learned this week that they will be losing their jobs by the end of May. When contacted Thursday, the worldwide customer service organization based in Tampa, Fla., did not provide the number of layoffs or the number of employees now working at the center at 128 Weld […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Stocks push higher on improving economic reports
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks edged higher to start the week after economic reports suggested that the recovery is continuing. The Commerce Department said consumer spending rose at its fastest pace in four months in February, though some of the increase was driven by higher gas prices. The National Association of Realtors said more Americans […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
AP analysis: US economic stress dips in past year
Lower unemployment and bankruptcies helped reduce the nation’s economic stress in January compared with a year earlier, according to The Associated Press’ monthly analysis. Still, the figures show the economy has yet to regain full health. Midwestern and Southeastern states posted the strongest gains year over year, thanks to increased manufacturing, the AP’s Economic Stress […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Heating oil prices stable in Maine survey
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine’s heating oil prices have remained stable over the past week despite turmoil in the Middle East and the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan. The state energy office says the average cash price for home heating oil in Maine dropped by a penny to $3.66 a gallon in its […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine to unveil strategy to rebuild deer herd
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage and other state officials say they have a plan to replenish Maine’s deer herd. LePage has made repeated reference to the need to protect deer yards as part of a strategy to rebuild the herd. Maine game officials say concern over low deer herd numbers has been intensifying […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Report says child poverty rises in Maine
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A new report presents a mixed picture about the well-being of children in Maine. The Kids Count report being released Thursday says Maine’s child poverty rate was 17.5 percent in 2009, the latest year for which figures are available. That was 1 percentage point higher than the rate the previous year […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Real estate report: Home sales decline in Maine in February
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A report by a New England regional real estate firm says Maine’s housing market took a dip coming out of the winter season, with home sales declining 10.7 percent in February. Re/Max New England says that home sales were down 5.2 percent between February 2010 and last month. But it says […]