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">US unemployment rate reaches 9.8%
Friday, October 2, 2009
Companies in the United States are shedding more jobs, pushing the country’s unemployment rate to a 26-year high of 9.8%.
The US Labor Department said on Friday that employers cut 263,000 jobs in September, with companies in the service industries — including banks, restaurants and retailers — hit especially hard. This is the 21st consecutive month of job losses in the country.
The United States has now lost 7.2 million jobs since the recession officially began in December 2007. The new data has sparked fears that unemployment could threaten an economic recovery. Top US officials have warned that any recovery would be slow and uneven, and some have predicted the unemployment rate will top 10% before the situation improves.
“Continued household deleveraging and rising unemployment may weigh more on consumption than forecast, and accelerating corporate and commercial property defaults could slow the improvement in financial conditions,” read a report by the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook, predicting that unemployment will average 10.1% by next year and not go back down to five percent until 2014.
Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com, said that “it’s a very fragile and tentative recovery. Policy makers need to do more.”
“The number came in weaker than expected. We saw a lot of artificial involvement by the government to prop up the markets, and now that that is starting to end, the private sector isn’t yet showing signs of life,” said Kevin Caron, a market strategist for Stifel, Nicolaus & Co.
Also on Thursday, the US Commerce Department said factory orders fell for the first time in five months, dropping eight-tenths of a percent in August. Orders for durable goods — items intended to last several years (including everything from appliances to airliners) — fell 2.6%, the largest drop since January of this year.
The US government has been spending billions of dollars — part of a $787 billion stimulus package — to help spark economic growth. There have been some signs the economy is improving.
The Commerce Department said on Thursday that spending on home construction jumped in August for its biggest increase in 16 years. A real estate trade group, the National Association of Realtors, said pending sales of previously owned homes rose more than 12 percent in August, compared to August 2008.
A separate Commerce Department report said that consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, rose at its fastest pace in nearly eight years, jumping 1.3 percent in August.
Other reports have provided cause for concern. A banking industry trade group said Thursday the number of US consumers making late payments, or failing to make payments, on loans and credit cards is on the rise. A survey by a business group, the Institute for Supply Management, Thursday showed US manufacturing grew in September, but at a slower pace than in August when manufacturing increased for the first time in a year and a half.
Stock markets reacted negatively to the reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 41 points in early trading, reaching a level of 9467. This follows a drop of 203 points on Thursday, its largest loss in a single day since July. The London FTSE index fell 55 points, or 1.1%, to reach 4993 points by 15.00 local time.
Buckingham Palace releases trivia about Queen Elizabeth II
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
As Queen Elizabeth II approaches her 80th birthday, on April 21, Buckingham Palace has released 80 little known facts about her.
Did you know that: The Queen owns all dolphins, porpoises, and sturgeons in British waters. She has sat for 139 official portraits, opened 15 bridges in the UK, launched 23 ships, and speaks fluent French.
The Queen sent a message of congratulations to Apollo 11 astronauts, for the first moon landing on July 21 1969, and it was put in a metal container and placed on the Moon’s surface.
Or that in 1976 at an Army base she sent her first e-mail. Or she has owned more than 30 corgis, starting with Susan who was her 18th birthday present. And in 2002, at 76 years of age, that The Queen was the oldest monarch to celebrate a Golden Jubilee.
4 Wd’s Enjoyable Driving Experience Whether You Are Scaling Hills Or Navigating Rough Terrain}
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4WD’s Enjoyable Driving Experience Whether You Are Scaling Hills Or Navigating Rough Terrain
by
Charles Manfredi
What is a 4WD?
Most people own vehicles that are two-wheel drive, meaning that the engine provides power to only two, either the front or back pair. In a four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle, the engine provides power to all four wheels.
Advantages of 4WDs
Compared to two-wheel drive vehicles, 4WDs are easier to control and sustain traction better, especially in slippery conditions. If one or two wheels come off the road, with a 4WD, you can rely on two or three other wheels to regain control. A few other advantages of 4WDs include:
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Extra Safety: most 4WDs are elevated and give drivers better visibility of road before them.
Extra Room: the characteristically bigger interiors deliver added room for passengers, supplies and/or gear, making any trip, regardless of purpose, easier and more fun.
Cornering and Overall Stability: power is equally spread amongst all the four tires, so the weight on each is reduced, and such stabilizes the vehicle overall, on hills, and while turning corners.
4WDs are Enjoyable Regardless of Terrain
Australia is full of rough territories, sandy beaches, and sloping hills and a 4WD is really the only vehicle that can handle those areas. Youll nonetheless have a great time driving through those parts because a 4WDs better traction and greater stability result in a better driving experience. Safety, as always, comes first. Here are some tips keep you safe while riding certain terrains:
Potential Rolls: this is a concern whenever there is a hard angle on uneven, rocky ground. Consider first how your vehicle will operate before you execute the turn. If at any time you sense a possible roll, stop at once. If its too late to stop, try to turn into the roll (direct wheels in the direction the vehicle is leaning. E.g. if you start to tip left, turn the wheel hard left). You may be able to correct the roll.
Soft Sand: soft sand can cause trouble. To stay out of it, you have to keep on moving. When the beach is soft, third gear low range should deliver adequate speed and grunt. Keep gear changes to a minimum as the sand can pull you up when you ease off the throttle. Tow Bar Hitch Gear shifts should be even and quick and sustain speed. If you get bogged down easy does it – dont fight spinning your wheels will only drive you down more. Gradually reverse over the flattened sand.
Driving Up Steep Hills: when you come across a steep hill, look it over carefully. If you couldnt safely walk up the hill, you cant safely drive up the hill. If you determine that the hill is safe to drive, first decide which Towbar Mounted Bike Carrier gear youd like. Its best to avoid gear shifts while youre in mid-climb as it lessens the possibility of rolling. Also try to keep stops to a minimum as stops and starts are tricky on hills and you want to avoid rolling back, especially if you have a manual transmission.
Driving Down Steep Hills: gravity will continually try to pull you into an uncontrollable slide, so control is key while driving down steep hills. Try not to engage the clutch it will increase your speed, and if you activate the brakes, the wheel may lock and you could skid and, well, the rest is extremely unpleasant.
Once you get used to handling your 4WD Van Fitouts Northern Beaches and can navigate through rough terrains, you’ll be taking trips to romantic, out-of-the-way camping areas; hiking trails with rare wildlife; little-known fishing holes; stunning parks, just to name a few.
Situated in Sydney’s northern suburbs, Bars N Racks are the premier retailer for all your passenger tow bar, roof rack, 4WD equipment, caravan and RV, tradie ute and van accessory needs – with some of the world’s best brands and products available.
Article Source:
eArticlesOnline.com}
BHP Mine remains closed during death probe
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
BHP Billiton Ltd says its underground Leinster nickel mine in Western Australia, where a contractor was killed in an explosion last week, will stay shut until the outcomes of a government investigation are released.
A BHP spokesman in Perth refused to estimate how long company and government officials will take to investigate the incident. “These investigations can go on for quite some time and the mine will remain closed for that same length of time, said Brian Watt. “But it’s difficult to speculate”
Watt declined to comment on how much damage the underground explosion caused to the mine, or how much time would be needed to bring the operation back on line once a decision to resume is made.
BHP Billiton have confirmed the death at the Leinster Nickel Operation, north of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia – 950 km north east of Perth. BHP said the incident occurred late in the afternoon of Friday, February 3.
Mark Quinn, 32, from Broken Hill in far western New South Wales and an employee of MacMahon’s, was fatally injured. He was working approximately 900 meters underground when an explosion occurred. BHP said in a media release that there were no other persons injured as a result of the incident.
The cause of the explosion is not yet known. Operations at Leinster have been stopped and employees at site are being briefed and counseled.
BHP Billiton is the world’s third largest nickel producer, with the Leinster mine producing up to 45,000 metric tons of nickel concentrates a year.
Following speculations that Leinster’s closure may lead to a nickel shortage, a spokesperson told Reuters that BHP Billiton had sufficient nickel concentrate stockpiled to last until the mine reopens.
The Western Australian government has described the fatality rate in the mining industry as “deplorable and atrocious”.
John Bowler, Western Australia’s Employment Protection Minister says he will consider implementing changes to improve the safety record of the mining industry. Mr Quinn’s death is the third underground fatality and the fourth mining death this financial year.
The new Minister, John Bowler, says he will consider implementing any changes needed to improve safety in the industry.
