http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/?refid=0 MinnEcon is a civil place to talk about Minnesota's economy. Let's trade news and insights and get smarter about the economy. So, what's going on where you live? Copyright 2012, Minnesota Public Radio Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:24:18 -0600 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=4.21-en http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss mail@mpr.org (Annie Baxter) The annual rate of decline in Twin Cities home prices slowed somewhat in November, bucking a national trend. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/home-prices-still-dropping-in-twin-cities-but-rate-of-decline-improves.shtml?refid=0 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/home-prices-still-dropping-in-twin-cities-but-rate-of-decline-improves.shtml Housing & mortgages Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:24:18 CST mail@mpr.org (Annie Baxter) Target is seeking an environmental review of potential plans for 1.7 million square feet of office space at its North Campus in Brooklyn Park. That's about 200,000 square feet more than Target's prior plan. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/target-lays-groundwork-for-bigger-brooklyn-park-campus.shtml?refid=0 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/target-lays-groundwork-for-bigger-brooklyn-park-campus.shtml Minnnesota Fortune 500 companies Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:42:01 CST mail@mpr.org (Bill Catlin) Shares of TCF Financial, parent company of TCF Bank, are down six percent in morning trading after the company announced a 49 percent drop in fourth quarter earnings. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/tcf-earnings-and-stock-tank.shtml?refid=0 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/tcf-earnings-and-stock-tank.shtml Twin Cities metro Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:48:45 CST mail@mpr.org (Annie Baxter) Minnesota's exports posted a third-quarter record in 2011. They grew to $5.1 billion in the three-month period ending in September. That was an increase of 4 percent from the same period in 2010. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/minnesotas-exports-climb-in-third-quarter-of-2011.shtml?refid=0 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/minnesotas-exports-climb-in-third-quarter-of-2011.shtml Minnnesota Fortune 500 companies Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:58:46 CST mail@mpr.org (Bill Catlin) Target says it will buy back up to another $5 billion of its shares under a new stock repurchase program. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/target-to-buy-back-5-billion-of-its-stock.shtml?refid=0 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/target-to-buy-back-5-billion-of-its-stock.shtml Minnesota Fortune 500 firms Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:16:46 CST mail@mpr.org (Bill Catlin) Cargill today reported earnings plunged even as revenue jumped in the three months ending Nov. 30th. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/cargill-profits-plummet.shtml?refid=0 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/cargill-profits-plummet.shtml Minnesota Fortune 500 firms Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:29:47 CST mail@mpr.org (MPR News Staff) By STEVE KARNOWSKI, Associated Press CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (AP) -- The rolling hills and scenic bluffs of western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota hide a valuable resource that has sparked what's been called a modern-day gold rush. The object of desire... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/natural-gas-oil-boom-spurs-sand-mining-in-midwest.shtml?refid=0 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/natural-gas-oil-boom-spurs-sand-mining-in-midwest.shtml Greater Minnesota Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:55:46 CST mail@mpr.org (MPR News Staff) By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER, AP Economics Writer Job seekers visit a November career fair in Bloomington. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) WASHINGTON (AP) - A burst of hiring in December pushed the unemployment rate to its lowest level in nearly three years,... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/unemployment-rate-falls-to-lowest-level-in-three-years.shtml?refid=0 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/unemployment-rate-falls-to-lowest-level-in-three-years.shtml Jobs & unemployment Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:36:20 CST mail@mpr.org (MPR News Staff) WASHINGTON (AP) -- Recent statistics are producing optimism among economists about today's government report on December employment. Weekly reports show declining layoffs and manufacturers also have reported that they've been hiring more. John Ryding at RDQ Economics forecasts that employers... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/economists-see-signs-of-improving-us-jobs-picture.shtml?refid=0 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/economists-see-signs-of-improving-us-jobs-picture.shtml Jobs & unemployment Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:02:14 CST mail@mpr.org (Minnesota Public Radio) A new state analysis shows modest but steady demand for "green" jobs in the Minnesota's economy. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/demand-for-green-jobs-is-small-but-steady-in-minnesota.shtml?refid=0 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/demand-for-green-jobs-is-small-but-steady-in-minnesota.shtml Jobs & unemployment Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:31:20 CST mail@mpr.org (MPR News Staff) Sales of consumer electronics, music, movies and books were soft. But Target said grocery and health and beauty sales were strong. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/target-lowers-earnings-expectations-after-disappointing-december.shtml?refid=0 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/target-lowers-earnings-expectations-after-disappointing-december.shtml Minnesota Fortune 500 firms Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:40:48 CST mail@mpr.org (MPR News Staff) By DEREK KRAVITZ, AP Business Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- 2012 looks to be another year of opportunity for the few who can afford to buy or refinance a home. Freddie Mac says the average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/rate-on-30-year-mortgage-down-to-record-391-pct.shtml?refid=0 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/rate-on-30-year-mortgage-down-to-record-391-pct.shtml Housing & mortgages Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:03:25 CST mail@mpr.org (MPR News Staff) By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO, AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- Many retailers are reporting solid sales gains for December, capping a decent holiday season, but shoppers bent on discounts exacted a high price. Merchants had to mark down coats and... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/retailers-report-solid-finale-to-holidays.shtml?refid=0 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/retailers-report-solid-finale-to-holidays.shtml Saving & spending Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:08:58 CST mail@mpr.org (MPR News Staff) By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER, AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell further in the final week of 2011, a positive sign for hiring one day ahead of Friday's December employment report. The Labor... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/fewer-people-sought-unemployment-aid-last-week.shtml?refid=0 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/fewer-people-sought-unemployment-aid-last-week.shtml Jobs & unemployment Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:50:21 CST mail@mpr.org (Minnesota Public Radio) Several new tenants have been lined up to take over space when Bloomingdale's closes its store at the Mall of America. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/retailers-lining-up-to-fill-space-when-bloomingdales-vacates.shtml?refid=0 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/minnecon/archive/2012/01/retailers-lining-up-to-fill-space-when-bloomingdales-vacates.shtml Twin Cities metro Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:00:00 CST