Saturday, April 16, 2011
Unemployment declines in Ohio
COLUMBUS
The state says an increase in manufacturing jobs helped Ohio’s unemployment rate drop for the 13th month in a row to a two-year low of 8.9 percent.
Joblessness fell last month to continue a steady decline since February 2010, when Ohio unemployment hit 10.6 percent, the highest level in more than a quarter century.
Ohio’s payrolls outside of farms grew by 2,200 in March, bolstered by a gain of 7,100 manufacturing jobs and a slight increase in the mining and logging sectors.
Education and health services also added jobs, but employment fell in the utilities, government and leisure and information areas.
The March national jobless rate was 8.8 percent.
Unemployment figures for the Valley are set to be released early next week.
Kasich to visit Salem company
SALEM
Gov. John Kasich will visit Mac Trailer Manufacturing, 1453 Allen Road, at 12:30 p.m. Monday.
Mac Trailer announced in March the addition of 100 positions. It currently staffs 230.
Goodyear to build new headquarters
AKRON
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. says it’s ready to move ahead with a long-delayed project to build a new headquarters in its Ohio hometown.
The tire maker announced Friday it will have a ground-breaking ceremony Monday for the scaled-back $161 million development.
The project was announced four years ago but was delayed by financing issues amid the recession.
Under a local-government financial-aid deal announced earlier this year, Goodyear agreed to stay in Akron for 25 years and keep 2,900 jobs in the city.
Midwest prices rise
WASHINGTON
Prices in the Midwest jumped nearly a full percent in March and are now 2.7 percent higher than at the same time last year, according to numbers released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Motor-fuel prices skyrocketed 10.6 percent in the last month and are 15.2 percent higher than in March 2010.
Nationwide, the Consumer Price index rose 0.5 percent in March.
Chamber adds 2 new members
HUBBARD
The Hubbard Area Chamber of Commerce announced Friday the addition of two members, Pier Graphics, 6140 W. Liberty St., and Hubbard Surgical Fitting Centre, 10 E. Liberty St.
The chamber also announced its new board members: Mary Ann Lark, president; Al Sauline, vice president; Amber Babik, treasurer; and April Cheney secretary.
Vindicator staff/wire reports
Selected local stocks
STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE
Aqua America, .62, 22.18 .24
Avalon Holdings,2.90—.05
Clear Channel, .63 57.13 .26
Cortland Bancorp, 6.05—.20
Farmers Nat., .12, 4.75 0.00
First Energy, 2.20, 38.40.29
FirstMerit Corp., .64,16.86 —.01
First Niles Financial, .32,7.50.00
First Place Fin., 2.00.00
FNB Corp., .48,10.48.06
General Motors,30.24—.34
General Electric, .56,20.04.04
Motors Liquidation, .04222.00
Huntington Bank, .04, 6.52.02
JP Morgan Chase, 1.00,44.89—.08
Key Corp, .04,8.82.07
LaFarge, 16.43.11
Macy’s, .20, 24.40—.04
Parker Hannifin, 1.28, 93.59—.32
PNC, .40,61.90.03
RTI Intl. Metals,29.58—.22
Rural/Metro, 17.06 —.02
Simon Prop. Grp.,3.20,108.731.28
Stoneridge 14.47 .22
United Community Fin. 1.20.03
Selected prices at 4 p.m. Friday. Provided by Stifel Nicolaus. Not to be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security.