LANSING - Michigan lost population and grew poorer from 2002 to 2013, a report by the Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency shows, and the growth in poverty affected every county during that time. In 2002, the state had a poverty rate below the national average, the report said, with poverty at 11.3 percent of the state's
DETROIT - Automakers are expected to increase incentives in 2016 that will help propel U.S. sales of new cars and light trucks to an all-time record of nearly 18 million units, predicts an economist for the National Automotive Dealers Association. With growing manufacturing capacity, and a slowing global economy, especially in emerging markets, Steven Szakaly,
GRAND RAPIDS - Dematic’s North America division may soon close its manufacturing operations in Grand Rapids and move 365 jobs south of the border to another Dematic plant in Mexico. The company, known for decades as Rapistan, designs and builds automated systems for warehouses, distribution centers and other sites with material-moving needs. Rapistan first opened
ANN ARBOR - Fuel economy of vehicles sold in calendar year 2015 fell slightly compared to 2014, say researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. The average fuel economy (window-sticker value) of new vehicles sold in the U.S. last year dropped to 25.3, down 0.1 from the value for the vehicles sold in
DETROIT - Toyota Motor North America through its “Toyota Walk In My Boots” community outreach project and North American International Auto Show activities, is stepping in to help area low-income and homeless families by providing new insulated boots and socks to more than 200 participants of The Salvation Army Conner Creek Corps Community Center located
AUBURN HILLS - The FCA Foundation, the charitable arm of FCA US LLC, on Tuesday announced $250,000 in grants to FIRST Robotics Competition (grades 9-12) and FIRST Tech Challenge (grades 7-12) teams in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. The grants will offset the costs associated with items such as registration fees, parts and materials and team
ZEELAND - In 2015, 22 companies worked closely with Lakeshore Advantage to create 780 new jobs and more than $180 million in private investment when completed, the economic development group said in a report released Monday. What’s more, in 2015, Lakeshore Advantage helped to generate $175 in new private investment for every $1 invested in
DETROIT - The Southeast Michigan Purchasing Managers Index wrapped up 2015 where it spent all of 2015 - above 50, suggesting an expanding economy. The December index marks 18 consecutive months at or above a value of 50.0. The PMI reached its high mark for the year in May, at 66.4. The last value below
HOLLAND - In general, West Michigan companies seem to be holding steady on technology hiring. Sixty percent continue to plan on hiring more tech staff in the next six months just as they did for all of 2015. Fewer, only about 50 percent, are raising salaries. Perhaps this is because in 2015 more than 75
ANN ARBOR - Consumer confidence rose to its highest level since July, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. The December reading was nearly equal to the 2015 average of 92.9, which was the highest since 2004. The gain was largely due to lower inflation, which bolstered real incomes and brightened buying plans
