With quarterly corporate earnings lags, this current sentiment is economically encouraging: consumer confidence in U.S. unexpectedly climbed in July

Confidence among U.S. consumers unexpectedly rose for the first time in five months as Americans became more upbeat about job prospects later this year.

The Conference Board’s index increased to 65.9 this month from 62.7 in June, figures from the New York-based private research group showed today. Economists projected a reading of 61.5, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey. The report showed a gain in the share of consumers anticipating better labor and economic conditions in six months. Feeling fiscally frisky are you...

News of U.S. Bioscience/High-Tech (Products! Jobs! Growth!) from the Midwest

Throughout Ohio, jobs have been scarce in recent years. But our life-sciences sector has thrived, adding thousands of high-quality jobs and contributing billions to the economy.

The success of the sector is no accident. Lawmakers put good policies in place. Roughly 40 percent of the funding handed out by Ohio’s Third Frontier program, a $1.6-billion effort to develop high-tech businesses, has supported bioscience. Representatives in Washington, D.C., also have done good work.

Europe led biomedical innovation a generation ago; the United States now leads. In 2011, we had 3,091 drugs in development. European Union countries were working on just 1,449. Europe and Asia now are trying to catch up, streamlining their regulatory-approval processes and promoting public-private partnerships to attract research-and-development investment. Cheer and read on...

The Good Position of the Bad Economy

The good position of the bad economy; therein lies our optimism: Amazon profit, forecast miss estimates on warehouse costs, while Amazon gains as it improves distribution network. Suspend the $tress, and read on... 

American Trucking Association Opens Court Battle over Driver Work Rules

Will the outcome (either way) affect new driver recruitment during the current shortage? Roll with it...

Can the U.S. Handle a Manufacturing Comeback?

For years, U.S. manufacturers worried about business being sent overseas. Now, as signs point to a resurgence of American-made goods, a new fear is emerging: that there won't be enough skilled workers to keep up with demand. May be something to this...

Freight Bill Processor Data2Logistics Launches Freight Shipping Times via Paper.li

Global freight bill processor, auditor and cost reduction advisor Data2Logistics, LLC launched Freight Shipping Times (http://paper.li/Data2Logistics/1342532208), an industry newspaper published daily via Paper.li, focusing on news and opinion of logistics, supply chain and manufacturing topics covering U.S. and global activities. The publication’s objective is to provide a current, single-source resource informing and entertaining professionals involved in the world of inbound and outbound shipping. Read all about it...

The New(ly) Emerging Market: Myanmar

Myanmar has unveiled a package of wide-ranging finance reforms aimed allowing direct foreign investment to help upgrade the Asian nation’s antiquated infrastructure.

Aimed initially at bringing its medical and telecommunications sectors into the 21st century, the reforms are already attracting foreign companies interested doing business in the country.

Thein Sein, who took power in Myanmar – formerly known as Burma – last year after a general election, said he sees the reforms as “key elements in the future development of the country.” Continue..