Queen City College awarded Crime Free Business Certification
Clarksville, TN – Clarksville Police Department awarded the Crime Free Business certification to, Ralph Payne, owner of Queen City College, 1594 Fort Campbell Blvd. Queen City College was the ninth Clarksville business to be awarded the prestigious certification.
There are five more businesses which are currently working toward meeting the requirements for certification.
Left to Right – Officer Booker Dailey, Laura Payne-Queen City College Chief Administrator, Ralph Payne – Owner, and Brandie King-Queen City College Director.
The Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen
Market Commentary by Scott J. Brown, Ph.D., Chief Economist
Scott J. Brown Ph.D., Chief Economist Raymond James Investment Services
The economic data were mixed. Real GDP growth for the third quarter was revised to a 2.5% annual rate (vs. +2.0% in the advance estimate), reflecting upward revisions to consumer spending (now at a 2.8% pace), exports, and state and local government spending. Inventory growth was revised lower, still at an unsustainable pace (implying an expected drag on GDP growth in Q410). Personal income and spending were moderately strong in October. The PCE Price Index ex-food & energy was flat, up just 0.9% year-over-year.
October home sales figures disappointed. Factory orders, normally choppy from month-to-month, fell sharply (one month does not a trend make, but this bears watching closely over the near term). Consumer sentiment improved in the full-month reading for November (still very low). No surprise, the minutes of the November 2-3 FOMC policy meeting showed some difference of opinion among senior Fed officials regarding the Fed’s asset purchase program. Fed officials revised lower their forecasts of growth in 2011, with lackluster improvement in the unemployment rate (a central tendency forecast of 8.9% to 9.1% in Q411). Weekly claims for state unemployment insurance benefits fell sharply – these figures are often very choppy during this time of year, but the underlying trend may be coming down. [Read more]
The Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen
Market Commentary by Scott J. Brown, Ph.D., Chief Economist
Scott J. Brown Ph.D., Chief Economist Raymond James Investment Services
The economic data were mixed, still consistent with a moderate recovery and low inflation. Retail sales rose more than expected in October, led by improvement in vehicle sales. Ex-autos, sales were moderate. Industrial production was flat, but held down by a drop in the output of utilities (a function of moderate temperatures). The Fed’s two major regional manufacturing surveys were mixed (NY down sharply, Philadelphia up sharply). Inflation figures were lower than expected. Ex-food and energy the CPI rose 0.6% in the 12 months ending in October – a record low (the series began in 1957). Alternative measures of core inflation appear to be trending gradually lower.
While the economic data were important, the markets remained focused on the possible consequences of the Fed asset purchase program and, perhaps more importantly, on developments overseas, including troubles with the Irish banks and China’s attempts to cool inflation. Criticism regarding the Fed did not die down, and became more political. [Read more]
Pedigo Hardware continues their long tradition of customer service in Clarksville Tennessee
People go to Pedigo Hardware for a level of service they just can’t find anywhere else in Clarksville, a personal touch that you can only find when shopping at a locally owned business. Places where you are a customer, a friend, and not just another line in the accounting ledger.
Pedigo Harward has been a fixture in Clarksville since 1963 when it was founded in the shopping plaza where Wortham’s Food Town was located on Madison Street. Originally founded by William Pedigo, it is currently owned by Stacy Salyer. She first started working at the store in 1984. Three years later she purchased the business on April Fools Day in 1987. In January 2003 it moved to its current location just down from Kroger’s on Madison Street. [Read more]
The Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen
Market Commentary by Scott J. Brown, Ph.D., Chief Economist
Scott J. Brown Ph.D., Chief Economist Raymond James Investment Services
The economic data calendar was thin. Weekly claims for unemployment insurance benefits fell, but the numbers are normally choppy during this time of year (still, the underlying trend may be edging down due to better seasonal hiring this year). The September trade deficit was a bit narrower than assumed in the advance GDP report. Imports and exports fell sharply during the recession (narrowing the trade deficit considerably) and partly rebounded in the recovery (leading to a resumed widening of the deficit). However, recent figures suggest a flattening in these trends (and perhaps some stabilization in the size of the trade deficit, at least in the near term).
There was much interest ahead of the G-20 meeting (as with any such meeting), but these things always disappoint. The G-20 communiqué suggested no progress on reducing global imbalances or relieving monetary and fiscal policy tensions. The euro weakened on renewed sovereign debt worries (this time focusing mostly on Ireland, where austerity moves have done nothing to instill confidence). [Read more]
The Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen
Market Commentary by Scott J. Brown, Ph.D., Chief Economist
Scott J. Brown Ph.D., Chief Economist Raymond James Investment Services
The Federal Open Market Committee announced plans to further expand its holdings of securities. The FOMC expects to purchase a further $600 billion in long-term Treasuries by the end of Q211 ($75 billion per month) and will maintain its existing policy of reinvesting principal payments from its mortgage holdings into long-term Treasuries (about $35 billion per month). The FOMC indicated that it “will regularly review the pace of its securities purchases and the overall size of the asset-purchase program in light of incoming information and will adjust the program as needed to best foster maximum employment and price stability.” In its economic assessment, the FOMC said that “currently, the unemployment rate is elevated, and measures of underlying inflation are somewhat low, relative to levels that the Committee judges to be consistent, over the longer run, with its dual mandate.” The FOMC “anticipates a gradual return to higher levels of resource utilization in a context of price stability,” but added that “progress toward its objectives has been disappointingly slow.” The stock market seemed unsure of how to react to the Fed’s announcement, but rallied strongly the next day. [Read more]
The Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen
Market Commentary by Scott J. Brown, Ph.D., Chief Economist
Scott J. Brown Ph.D., Chief Economist Raymond James Investment Services
Real GDP rose at a 2.0% annual rate in the advance estimate for Q310 (vs. +1.7% for Q210 and +3.7% for Q110) – matching the median forecast. Real consumer spending rose at a 2.6% annual rate (vs. +2.2% in Q210). Business fixed investment rose 9.7% (vs. 17.2%). A faster pace of inventory accumulation (perhaps unintended) added 1.4 percentage points to overall growth. Another increase in imports (a sign of strength in domestic demand) subtracted 2.6 percentage points from GDP, while an increase in exports added 0.6 percentage points. Domestic Final Sales (GDP less net exports and the change in inventories), the best measure of underlying domestic demand, rose at a 2.5% annual rate, down from a strong 4.3% pace reported for Q210.
The markets were buffeted by earnings reports and by shifting expectations of the Fed’s asset purchases. The consensus is that the Fed will purchase smaller amounts ($250 billion to $500 billion) of long-term Treasuries over shorter time horizons, rather than the “shock and awe” of large-scale purchases (a level of $1 trillion had been floated earlier). Market participants began to look to next week with some level of uncertainty. [Read more]
The Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen
Market Commentary by Scott J. Brown, Ph.D., Chief Economist
Scott J. Brown Ph.D., Chief Economist Raymond James Investment Services
The economic data was mixed, but generally soft. Industrial production fell 0.2% in September. Manufacturing output fell 0.2%, with and without autos. Building permits fell in September, reflecting the usual volatility in the multi-family sector (single-family permits edged up 0.5%), while housing starts (which are choppy and subject to large revisions) rose more than expected. The Fed’s Beige Book noted that “on balance, national economic activity continued to rise, albeit at a modest pace, during the reporting period from September to early October.” Prices of final goods and services were “mostly stable as higher costs were not passed on to consumers.” Hiring remained “limited,” with “many firms reluctant to add to permanent payrolls given economic softness.”
Earnings reports were mixed, but mostly positive relative to expectations, fueling the stock market action. The bond market seemed to mark time, waiting for the November 3 Fed policy decision. The currency market saw brief short-covering in the dollar following China’s surprise announcement of an interest rate hike. [Read more]
Grand Opening for Fort Campbell Federal Credit Union’s newest branch
Clarksville, TN – Fort Campbell Federal Credit Union is having a Grand Opening Saturday, October 23rd, 2010 from 9:00am-1:00pm for their new Dover Crossing Branch, located at 145 Dover Crossing Road in Clarksville, across the street from Kroger.
Stop by for complimentary refreshments and enter to win some fabulous prizes including a TV! And, don’t forget to tell your friends, neighbors and family about the great benefits you enjoy being a member of Fort Campbell Federal Credit Union.
Call 931-431-6800 or 800-821-5891 for more information.
Diabetes and Obesity
Controlling insulin production is key to weight loss
Small steps towards losing weight
Insulin is secreted at higher than normal amounts if you consume lots of wheat, grains, and processed foods(all which contain glutens). The pancreas secretes insulin which can irritate your blood vessel lining and can lead to coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis. For most Americans it is all about the insulin.
Genes are not the cause of obesity, insulin is. When you have high insulin levels, you have a much harder time losing weight. When you do not exercise, your insulin level rise. High insulin levels mean that you will have a greater risk of degenerative diseases, heart disease, coronary artery disease, and obesity. It is simply your diet- processed foods, grains, sugar as well as lack of exercise. These things make your cells less receptive to insulin. The blood sugar rises and your pancreas secretes more insulin. [Read more]
