2015
Feb
01

Houston's economy diverse enough to survive oil price drop

The recent drop in oil prices is good news for most people but is causing a few concerns in Texas, whose economy is reliant on oil.  Oil prices recently dropped below US$50 a barrel, down from US$107 in June.  American Bank Comerica reported that, after seven months of growth the Texas Economic Activity Index fell 0.2 per cent last November, the last month figures are available for. However the bank said the index remained strong and a long way above the 72.6 it hit in June 2009.  "We expect to see more evidence of the economic drag on Texas from lower oil prices in the months ahead," Robert Dye, chief economist at Comerica Bank, said in a written statement. "The Texas economy is large…
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2015
Feb
01

Experts pick Auckland house prices to rise further

A panel of property experts have predicted Auckland's house prices will continue to rise in 2015, but that the rate of growth may curtail in the second half of the year.  Published in the Herald on Sunday today the panel were made up of Quotable Value spokesperson Andrea Rush, Real Estate Institute of New Zealand CEO Helen O'Sullivan, president of the Auckland Property Investors Association Andrew Bruce, managing director of Barfoot and Thompson Peter Thompson and financial analyst Bernard Hickey.  All of them agreed the growth Auckland house prices had been seeing would continue into 2015 citing factors such as a shortage of supply, low interest rates, net migration, a good economy and …
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2015
Jan
26

Ikea to open in Memphis

A city really knows it has been put on the map when Swedish furniture giant IKEA opens up a store.  IKEA announced plans recently to open a 260,000 square metre store on a 35-acre tract in the Wolfchase corridor, 15 miles of downtown Memphis.  Memphis is already home to some of America's best known companies such as Nike, Fedex and Electrolux and while IKEA is just opening a store it will make a contribution to the local economy.  IKEA estimates it will open in late 2016 with 175 full-time employees earning $40,000 or more per year plus another 100 part-time employees. The construction of the new store will also create a number of jobs.  “We are excited at the possibility of growing ou…
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