AUGUSTA, Maine — In Gallup poll results released Tuesday, Maine ranks next to last for the percentage of respondents who describe themselves as “thriving” in the first half of 2012. Only West Virginia fared worse. The results come a week after a separate Gallup poll revealed that a lower percentage of Mainers than residents of any other state […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine ranks 13th in kid’s health, education
Maine ranks 13 among 50 states in overall child well-being, according to the 2012 Kids Count report recently released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private charitable organization dedicated to helping disadvantaged children. The ranking is determined by indicators including economic well-being, education, health and family and community life. “Maine’s higher rankings in the […]
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Maine gas prices soar nearly 8 cents per gallon
AUGUSTA (AP) — The average retail cost of a gallon of gas in Maine soared almost eight cents in the past week, but still didn’t rise as fast as the national average. Price-monitoring website MaineGasPrices.com reported Monday that the average cost in Maine jumped to $3.69 per gallon. Even though the national average jumped more […]
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, sj-web
New Brunswick fishermen blockade Maine lobster deliveries
ELLSWORTH, Maine — As Maine lobstermen contend with historically low prices for their catch, the economic discomfort resulting from the state’s oversupply of soft-shell lobsters appears to be spreading across the border into Canada. On Thursday, New Brunswick fishermen publicly expressed their displeasure that some lobster processors in the province are getting their supply from […]
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Maine college offers workforce discounts
WATERVILLE, Maine (AP) — Thomas College and the Maine Development Foundation are announcing a partnership that will provide workers in some Maine businesses with special rates to apply to the Waterville school and discounts for its courses. For all current employees of more than 140 participating businesses, the Thomas College Graduate and Continuing Education Division […]
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Biggest Maine blueberry harvest since ’00 expected
This year’s crop is projected to come in between 90 million to 95 million pounds, with the monthlong harvest kicking into gear the first week of August. If the yield reaches 90 million pounds, it would be the largest harvest since 2000, when production reached a record 110 million pounds. Maine’s blueberry crop has averaged […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
U.S. economy looks weaker; business confidence dims
WASHINGTON — Businesses placed fewer orders for most long-lasting manufactured goods in June, suggesting many are losing confidence in the slumping U.S. economy. The housing recovery also lost some momentum last month as fewer Americans signed contracts to buy homes. A third report Thursday showed applications for unemployment benefits plunged last week — normally a […]
Posted inLocal & State
Maine’s economy shrunk in 2011
AUGUSTA — Maine was the only state in New England last year to see a reduction in the gross domestic product, which measures overall economic activity. “It is the primary measure of economic growth for each state,” said Mike Allen, associate commissioner for the Department of Administrative and Financial Services. Allen, an economist, serves on […]
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LePage: Economy growing stronger
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage sees an improving Maine economy as the summer tourism season begins. In his weekly radio address, LePage says traffic into Maine during the Memorial Day weekend was up, and campgrounds say reservations for the summer season are up by 10 percent or more. This means more money is […]
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Obama: Congress, Europe must stem economic crisis
WASHINGTON (AP) — The economy at risk, President Barack Obama accused Republicans on Friday of pursuing policies that would weaken the U.S. recovery. He simultaneously urged Europe’s leaders to prevent an overseas debt crisis from dragging down the rest of the world. At a White House news conference five months before Election Day, the president […]