Sherman A1
Sherman A1's JournalBeef prices have hit their highest level in almost three decades
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/4/13/beef-prizes-reachhighestlevelsince1987.htmlcausing sticker shock for both consumers and restaurant owners — and relief isn't likely anytime soon.
A dwindling number of cattle and growing export demand from countries such as China and Japan have caused the average retail cost of fresh beef to climb to $5.28 a pound in February, up almost a quarter from January and the highest price since 1987.
Everything that is produced is being consumed, said Kevin Good, an analyst at CattleFax, a Colorado-based industry information service. And prices will likely stay high for a couple of years, as cattle producers start to rebuild their herds amid big questions about whether the Southwest and parts of the Midwest will receive enough rain to replenish pastures.
Meanwhile, quick trips to the grocery store could drag on a little longer as shoppers search for cuts that won't break the budgets. Patrons at one market in Lubbock seemed resigned to the high prices, but not happy.
Family Dollar to close 370 stores; Q2 sales, earnings down
Family Dollar Stores said Thursday that it would close 370 underperforming stores and slow plans for new store growth as sales and earnings plunged during the fiscal second quarter.
The Matthews, N.C.-based discounter also said it would make a "significant investment" to lower prices on 1,000 items in stores and would move to reduce costs through layoffs at corporate headquarters. The company said sales for the quarter ended March 1 declined by 6.1% to $2.7 billion, while same-store sales fell by 3.8%. Gross profits were down 6.7% to 33.2% of net sales; and net earnings decreased by 35.1% to $90.9 million. The company said a highly promotional holiday season, constrained consumer spending and poor weather affected results.
Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/family-dollar-close-370-stores-q2-sales-earnings-down#ixzz2yomGYciH''
Could be that there are simply too many dollar stores around diluting the market place for that sector?
Crude oil boom has tankers rumbling through Holly Hills neighborhood
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/crude-oil-boom-has-tankers-rumbling-through-holly-hills-neighborhood/article_aed9175e-f5fb-5309-a1d1-0ba9cea3ef3e.htmlST. LOUIS • Judith Studebaker knew there were railroad tracks running behind her house when she bought in the Holly Hills subdivision 16 years ago.
But until the past few years, traffic was fairly light — mostly Amtrak liners and a few freight trains just beyond her backyard fence. Later, freight cars loaded with rock and other products began rumbling past.
Beginning about two years ago, Studebaker and her Arendes Drive neighbors noticed locomotives pulling long lines of black tank cars behind their homes.
“I kept wondering,” she said, “what was in the tankers?”
2 mine workers killed in Missouri accident
Ste. Geneveieve County Coroner Leo Basler says the men were in a basket extended from a truck several feet into the air, removing loose rock from either the wall or the ceiling of the mine. Basler says loose rock hit the basket and detached it. The men fell to their death.
The accident happened about 9:45 a.m. Friday inside a lime mine operated by the Mississippi Lime Co. near Ste. Genevieve, about 60 miles south of St. Louis.
http://www.ky3.com/news/local/2-mine-workers-killed-in-missouri-accident/21048998_25442266
Mon Dieu! No More Work Email At Home For Some French Workers
rench workers already enjoy a 35-hour workweek and at least five weeks of vacation. Now, many of them won't have to check their work email after 6 p.m.
That's because of an agreement signed last week by unions and the consulting and tech industries. Under the deal, about 1 million workers will be required to switch off their work phones outside office hours — 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. The BBC reports that some emailing outside those hours will be allowed, but only in exceptional circumstances.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/04/10/301418591/mon-dieu-no-more-work-email-at-home-for-some-french-workers?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140410
Americans will spend less this Easter
Americans celebrating Easter plan to spend slightly less on food, candy, gifts, apparel and other items compared to last year ($137.46 vs. $145.13), according to the National Retail Federation’s Easter Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics.
Those who plan to celebrate (80.3% vs. 83% in 2013) will spend the most on groceries for a family dinner or Sunday brunch out; 85.7% will spend an average of $43.18 on a holiday meal, totaling $5 billion.
Nine in 10 celebrants (89.3%) will stock up on Easter candy, spending $2.2 billion on sweets. Families will also spend on gifts ($2.4 billion), flowers ($1.1 billion) and decorations ($1.1 billion).
Boding well for retailers is warmer weather since Easter falls on a later date than in years past, according to NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay.
Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/consumer-trends/americans-will-spend-less-easter#ixzz2yTUdBaXN
This will be my Easter spending
UPS re-hires 250 drivers who were axed for work stoppage after daylong negotiations with union
After refusing to back down from its decision to terminate 250 drivers, UPS on Wednesday agreed to give them back their jobs. The Atlanta-based company faced criticism for its stance, but then reached an agreement with the union to re-hire the drivers who work from a depot in Maspeth, Queens.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/ups-re-hires-250-queens-drivers-talk-union-article-1.1751467
Right-to-Work fails to get 82 votes in Missouri House
http://themissouritimes.com/9506/right-work-fails-get-82-votes-house/JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Today the house failed to get the 82 votes required for final passage of the controversial “Right-to-Work” legislation. The bill was perfected today in the House by a vote of 78-68, lacking a majority of the full house and marking a blow for Right-to-Work proponents.
Speaker Tim Jones has made the issue a top priority during his tenure as speaker. While early approval of bills only requires a majority of members present, the bill will need 82 votes — a majority of the entire chamber — to advance to the Senate where Senate leaders have been remarkably unenthusiastic about its passage.
Proponents, like Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, who sponsors the House language, says the bill merely expands freedom and choice for Missouri workers. Other supporters chided Democrats and RTW opponents for taking a too aggressive stance. Several Democrats repeatedly demanded an end to debate on the floor, repeatedly crying “let’s vote.” Burlison exclaimed on the floor that opponents of his bill were dictating to workers.
“Why are we so afraid to just give people a choice?’ Burlison said on the floor. “Freedom to Work is a necessary issue if we want a competitive advantage with the states around us.”
The ALEC Supported Anti Union, Anti Worker, Anti Middle Class "Right To Work Bill" met a tiny setback today in the Missouri House of Representatives!
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill accused General Motors Co. of a potentially criminal cover-up
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill accused General Motors Co. of a potentially criminal cover-up over its defective ignition switches, and fumed at the lack of answers from the carmaker’s new CEO during a second day of hearings Wednesday into why GM waited a decade to recall cars with the deadly flaw.
Members of a Senate subcommittee also said GM should tell owners of the 2.6 million cars being recalled to stop driving them until they are repaired. But CEO Mary Barra gave assurances that the cars, mainly Chevrolet Cobalts and Saturn Ions, are safe to use while owners wait for the replacement part. Barra she would let her own son get behind the wheel if he took certain precautions.
GM has linked the switch to 13 deaths and dozens of accidents. Others sources, including relatives of some victims, have said they have a higher count of fatalities.
The automaker has said the ignition switch can move from the "run" position to the "accessory" position because of weight on the key chain. That causes the engine to shut off, disabling power steering, power brakes and the front air bags.
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/4/2/gm-recall-congress0.html
Retailers Oppose Minimum Wage Hike
“Raising the standard of living for low-skill, low-wage workers is a valid goal. But there is clear evidence that mandated wage hikes undermine the job prospects for less skilled and part-time workers,” so said NRF Senior VP David French, in a letter to the Senate in response to proposed legislation aiming to increase the federal minimum wage by 40 percent.
NRF labeled such legislation an “anti-job tax,” which would lead to higher labor costs for employers and fewer opportunities for young and entry-level workers. NRF further noted that this is the “least opportune moment” to mandate a federal wage increase on employers with small and large businesses alike already confronting workforce challenges associated with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Instead of focusing on “sound-bite politics,” the organization said, NRF urged Congress to focus on advancing long-term economic policies that would provide employers with the certainty they need to make strategic investment decisions and improve hiring opportunities for all workers.
“Policymakers have other tools, such as increasing the earned income tax credit, fixing the tax code, education improvements, immigration reform, transportation funding, and strong trade alliances that will aid in achieving that goal without creating more unemployment,” French wrote. “Finding more opportunities for those trying to start out is a better economic approach than restricting the amount of jobs for those seeking employment.”
http://www.progressivegrocer.com/top-stories/headlines/regulatory-affairs/id41335/retailers-oppose-minimum-wage-hike/
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