In the News
Unemployment rates decline throughout Central Oregon: All three Central Oregon counties saw declines in unemployment rates in November with Jefferson County leading the way with a 1.2 percent decrease. Deschutes County saw a 0.5 percentage point decline from October's revised rate of 15.2 percent. Retail trade and education and health services were two private sector industries that added jobs in November. Local government also added 350 jobs in November. Oregon'’s unemployment rate remained relatively unchanged at 11.1 percent.
Survey finds employment mixed for 2010: According to a recent survey conducted by Right Management, a talent and career management segment of Manpower Inc., three out of four employers don't plan on hiring in the first quarter of 2010. The survey of 28,000 employers showed 73 percent of respondents expect no changes in hiring plans for 2010. However, 12 percent anticipate an increase in staffing levels while 12 percent expect a decrease in payrolls.
IRS Reminds Car Shoppers about 2009 Tax Break: The Internal Revenue Service wants to reminds individual taxpayers who are considering buying a new car that they have until Dec. 31 to take advantage of a tax break that may not be around in 2010. Taxpayers who bought a qualifying new motor vehicle this year can deduct the state or local sales or excise taxes they paid on the first $49,500 of the purchase price. Qualifying motor vehicles include new passenger automobiles, light trucks, motorcycles, and motor homes. Taxpayers who take the standard deduction need to complete Schedule L and attach it to Form 1040 or Form 1040A to increase the standard deduction by the allowable amount of state or local sales or excise taxes paid on the purchase of the new vehicle.
January brings dialing changes: Starting January 10, 2010 all Oregonians in the 541 area code will need to start dialing all 10 digits in order to make a local call. A study done by the Oregon Public Utilities Commission found that the 541 area code would run out of numbers in the early portion of 2010. The commission approved the use of a new 458 area code. Phone companies will start assigning new numbers with a 458 area code after February 10. Businesses need to have all automatic dialers, fax machines and computer modems reprogrammed before January 10. Also, businesses should verify if their telephone equipment can complete calls to the new 458 area code. A special test number for Bend is available. That number is 458-333-8373. When making a test call that is long distance, dial 1 plus the 10 digit number. For more information visit the Oregon Public Utility Commission Web site, www.puc.state.or.us/PUC/541_area_code.shtml or call 1-800-522-2404. |
