The number of job openings in California for “Innovation Type Jobs” increased from 12,335 in May 2014 to 12,612 in June 2014, while the searcher-to-job opening ratio increased from 0.68 to 1.02 in the same span.
Image source: http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2013/09/23/symposium-innovation-ecosystems-jobs-wea.html
The number of job openings in Texas for STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) jobs increased from 12,335 in May 2014 to 12,612 in June 2014, while the searcher-to-job opening ratio increased from 0.68 to 1.02 in the same span.
Image source: http://projecttomorrowblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/i-am-scientist.html
The following states raised their minimum wage in 2014:
Connecticut: Connecticut’s hourly minimum wage will increase incrementally to $10.10 over the next three years.
Delaware: Delaware’s minimum wage will increase to $8.25 an hour, effective June 1, 2015.
Hawaii: Hawaii’s minimum wage will increase to $10.10 per hour over the next four years.
Maryland: Maryland raised its minimum wage to $10.10 an hour by July 2018
Massachusetts: A new law will gradually raise the minimum wage in the state to $11 per hour by 2017,
Michigan: A new law will increase the state’s minimum hourly wage to $9.25 per hour by Jan. 1, 2018
Minnesota: The state’s minimum wage increased on Aug. 1, 2014, to $8 per hour for large employers (>$500k in gross sales). to $9.50 on Aug. 1, 2016. Beginning in 2018, the wage will be indexed to inflation to a maximum increase of 2.5 percent per year.
Rhode Island: The state’s minimum wage will increase to $9 per hour, effective Jan. 1, 2015.
Vermont: The state’s minimum wage will rise to $10.50 an hour by 2018. After 2018, annual cost-of-living increases of either 5 percent or if it is lower, a rate calculated by the federal Department of Labor annually that is tied to the consumer price index.
West Virginia: The state’s hourly minimum wage will increase to $8 on Jan. 1, 2015, and increase to $8.75 the following Jan. 1, 2016.
Washington, D.C.: The Minimum Wage Amendment Act of 2013 will increase the district’s minimum hourly wage in three steps to $11.50 by July 1, 2016
-See more at: http://www.shrm.org/legalissues/stateandlocalresources/pages/states-minimum-wage-2014.aspx#sthash.YFK7jjgC.dpuf
The number of job openings in Texas for “Innovation Type Jobs” increased from 12,335 in May 2014 to 12,612 in June 2014, while the searcher-to-job opening ratio increased from 0.68 to 1.02 in the same span.
Image source: http://www.americas.gecapital.com/insight-and-ideas/capital-perspectives/innovation-secrets-of-steve-jobs
It is easier than ever to invest across international borders. Measuring the risk associated with a country’s banking system is often a key decision international investment decisions. Banking system z-scores are one way of measuring overall financial risk within a country’s banking system. The banking z-score captures the probability of default of a country’s banking system.
In general, the Z-score compares a bank’s buffers (capitalization and returns) with the volatility of those returns. The banking z-score for Honduras, Brazil, and Mexico is shown below.
Here is some recent research on measuring banking system risk.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S104244311300005X
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1753735
http://www.hnb.hr/dub-konf/14-konferencija/ivicic-kunovac-ljubaj-2.pdf
I will be representing Texas Caisson Alumni Network at the Texas Army Fall 2014 Award Ceremony on Sept. 4, 2014. I am looking forward to seeing the young Army cadets. It is always great to see them!
.The ceremony will be the Student Activity Center (SAC) Legislative Assemble Room 2.302.
Median rent rose in San Antonio, Laredo, and Corpus Christi from June 2014 to July 2014.
Median house prices for San Antonio and Laredo fell from June 2014 to July 2014. Median house price for Corpus Christi rose from May 2014 to June 2014.
Image source: http://www.asemooni.com/news/economic-news/the-president-agreed-with-the-increase-in-housing
The consumer price index (CPI) went up from 237.693 in June 2014 to 237.909 in July 2014, an annualized rate of 1.09%. 
The price index for medical care commodities went up at an annualized rate of 3.99% from June 2014 to July 2014. During the same period, the price index for medical care services and hospital and related services went up at an annualized rate of 1.44% and 5.01%, respectively, whereas professional services went down at an annualized rate of 0.59%. Image source: http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-54762670/stock-photo-background-concept-illustration-consumer-price-index.html
Texas crude oil production for June 2014 was 64,710,024 barrels, down from 69,834,679 barrels reported in May 2014. Texas natural gas production was 602,891,617 Mcf (thousand cubic feet) of gas in June 2014, down from the May 2014 gas production total of 648,498,363 Mcf.
The health care and social assistance industry gained 100 jobs from June 2014 to July 2014. Compared to July 2013, the cumulative number of jobs added in this industry is 33,300, an annual increase of 2.5%.
Image source: http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2012/01/06/health-care-sector-adds-jobs-as-overall-employment-picture-looks-healthier/