Page 8 - Aruba Today 25 April 2015
P. 8
U.S. NEWS A7
Saturday 25 April 2015
US Financial Front:
Durable goods orders up, but business investment falls again
An employee walks past a display of appliances at a Home ufactured goods in March lowed a 2.2 percent drop in goods more expensive
Depot in Robinson Township, Pa. Orders for durable goods re- jumped by the largest February and marked the overseas. A stronger dollar
bounded 4 percent in March after having fallen 1.4 percent in amount in eight months, seven straight monthly de- also makes imports cheap-
February, the Commerce Department reported Friday, April 24, but a closer look at the de- cline. “The report was yet er and more competitive in
2015. The result was led by a big jump in demand for commer- tails reveals that business- another false positive that the United States. Demand
cial aircraft. Outside of the transportation category, orders were es kept pruning their invest- looks good in the headline for commercial aircraft, a
down for a sixth straight month. ment plans in the face of a but is eroding away under- volatile category, jumped
softening U.S. economy. neath,” said Michael Mont- 30.6 percent in March af-
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Orders to factories for du- gomery, U.S. economist ter a 2.2 percent decline in
rable goods rebounded 4 with IHS Global Insight. February. Orders for motor
MARTIN CRUTSINGER WASHINGTON (AP) — Pur- percent in March after a U.S. manufacturers have vehicles rose 5.4 percent,
AP Economics Writer chases of long-lasting man- 1.4 percent decline in Feb- been hurt by a labor dis- and the overall transporta-
ruary, the Commerce De- pute at West Coast ports tion category expanded
partment reported Friday. that disrupted supply 13.5 percent. Excluding
The result was led by a big chains in the early part of transportation, however,
jump in demand for com- the year. They were also the weakness was wide-
mercial aircraft. Outside of hit with winter weather in spread with orders down
the transportation catego- many parts of the country 0.2 percent. Demand for
ry, however, orders fell for that was harsh enough to primary metals such as steel
a sixth straight month. More disrupt production. edged down 0.2 percent,
worrying was a 0.5 percent Moreover, manufacturers while orders for machinery
drop in demand in a key have been grappling with dropped 1.5 percent. De-
category that serves as a a sharp rise in the value mand for communications
proxy for future businessin- of the dollar, which cuts equipment fell 5.3 percent.
vestment. The retreat fol- into exports by making U.S. q
Ford to lay off 700 workers
due to a slowdown in sales
DEE-ANN DURBIN the Focus and C-Max.
AP Auto Writer It’s the first time since 2009
DETROIT (AP) — Ford Mo- that Ford has cut a shift at
tor Co. said Thursday it’s a U.S. plant. Automakers
laying off 700 workers at a have been in growth mode
Michigan assembly plant since the recession, adding
because of slow sales of thousands of workers to
the small cars and hybrids meet strong U.S. demand
it makes. for new cars. Ford has
The Michigan Assembly added 14,000 workers to its
Plant, in the Detroit suburb U.S. plants over the last four
of Wayne, will move from years. But as annual sales
three shifts to two starting near their historic peak
June 22, spokeswoman of 17 million, automak-
Kristina Adamski said. The ers aren’t going to keep
plant, which makes the seeing the same big sales
Ford Focus and C-Max hy- gains they enjoyed coming
brid, has been operating out of the recession. Lower
on three shifts since 2012. gas prices also hurt sales
The plant is the same one of the fuel-efficient Focus
President Barack Obama and C-Max. Focus sales fell
visited in January to hail the 6 percent last year, while
resurgent U.S. auto industry. C-Max sales dropped 22
But even during that visit, percent.Ford says 675 as-
the plant was temporarily sembly line workers and 25
shut down to prevent over- salaried workers are affect-
production of the slow- ed. They will be laid off in
selling cars. The plant also three waves between June
makes electric versions of and September.q
Saturday 25 April 2015
US Financial Front:
Durable goods orders up, but business investment falls again
An employee walks past a display of appliances at a Home ufactured goods in March lowed a 2.2 percent drop in goods more expensive
Depot in Robinson Township, Pa. Orders for durable goods re- jumped by the largest February and marked the overseas. A stronger dollar
bounded 4 percent in March after having fallen 1.4 percent in amount in eight months, seven straight monthly de- also makes imports cheap-
February, the Commerce Department reported Friday, April 24, but a closer look at the de- cline. “The report was yet er and more competitive in
2015. The result was led by a big jump in demand for commer- tails reveals that business- another false positive that the United States. Demand
cial aircraft. Outside of the transportation category, orders were es kept pruning their invest- looks good in the headline for commercial aircraft, a
down for a sixth straight month. ment plans in the face of a but is eroding away under- volatile category, jumped
softening U.S. economy. neath,” said Michael Mont- 30.6 percent in March af-
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Orders to factories for du- gomery, U.S. economist ter a 2.2 percent decline in
rable goods rebounded 4 with IHS Global Insight. February. Orders for motor
MARTIN CRUTSINGER WASHINGTON (AP) — Pur- percent in March after a U.S. manufacturers have vehicles rose 5.4 percent,
AP Economics Writer chases of long-lasting man- 1.4 percent decline in Feb- been hurt by a labor dis- and the overall transporta-
ruary, the Commerce De- pute at West Coast ports tion category expanded
partment reported Friday. that disrupted supply 13.5 percent. Excluding
The result was led by a big chains in the early part of transportation, however,
jump in demand for com- the year. They were also the weakness was wide-
mercial aircraft. Outside of hit with winter weather in spread with orders down
the transportation catego- many parts of the country 0.2 percent. Demand for
ry, however, orders fell for that was harsh enough to primary metals such as steel
a sixth straight month. More disrupt production. edged down 0.2 percent,
worrying was a 0.5 percent Moreover, manufacturers while orders for machinery
drop in demand in a key have been grappling with dropped 1.5 percent. De-
category that serves as a a sharp rise in the value mand for communications
proxy for future businessin- of the dollar, which cuts equipment fell 5.3 percent.
vestment. The retreat fol- into exports by making U.S. q
Ford to lay off 700 workers
due to a slowdown in sales
DEE-ANN DURBIN the Focus and C-Max.
AP Auto Writer It’s the first time since 2009
DETROIT (AP) — Ford Mo- that Ford has cut a shift at
tor Co. said Thursday it’s a U.S. plant. Automakers
laying off 700 workers at a have been in growth mode
Michigan assembly plant since the recession, adding
because of slow sales of thousands of workers to
the small cars and hybrids meet strong U.S. demand
it makes. for new cars. Ford has
The Michigan Assembly added 14,000 workers to its
Plant, in the Detroit suburb U.S. plants over the last four
of Wayne, will move from years. But as annual sales
three shifts to two starting near their historic peak
June 22, spokeswoman of 17 million, automak-
Kristina Adamski said. The ers aren’t going to keep
plant, which makes the seeing the same big sales
Ford Focus and C-Max hy- gains they enjoyed coming
brid, has been operating out of the recession. Lower
on three shifts since 2012. gas prices also hurt sales
The plant is the same one of the fuel-efficient Focus
President Barack Obama and C-Max. Focus sales fell
visited in January to hail the 6 percent last year, while
resurgent U.S. auto industry. C-Max sales dropped 22
But even during that visit, percent.Ford says 675 as-
the plant was temporarily sembly line workers and 25
shut down to prevent over- salaried workers are affect-
production of the slow- ed. They will be laid off in
selling cars. The plant also three waves between June
makes electric versions of and September.q
