OLD TOWN (AP) – The slumping economy is being blamed for a slowdown in production at Old Town Canoe.

The company says work hours have been cut for some employees as fewer canoes and kayaks were produced last week. Spokeswoman Lana Phillips says the cutback was designed to reduce inventory and overhead. She said the temporary slowdown is likely to be repeated around Christmas.

Phillips says no one has been laid off, and the company’s financial condition remains good.

Old Town Canoe, one of the largest employers in Old Town, is a subsidiary of Wisconsin-based Johnson Outdoors.

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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com

AP-ES-12-02-08 0724EST