Made In America: Apple Building $1.4 Billion Plant, But Not In U.S.
by March 8, 2015 6:59 am 111 views
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APPLE BUILDING $1.4 BILLION MANUFACTURING PLANT IN JAPAN
Reuters reports on Friday that Japan Display Inc. said it plans to build a new $1.4 billion liquid crystal display (LCD) manufacturing plant, which a source said would supply smartphone screens for Apple Inc.
That report occurred just before Friday’s jobs report by the U.S. Labor Department that said total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 295,000 in February, and the unemployment rate edged down to 5.5 percent, the lowest level since President Obama has been in office. Buried deep in the jobs report was the fact that manufacturing employment grew by only 8,000 jobs during the month.
No word on whether or not any U.S. companies were in the running for the Apple plant.
NO VACANCIES: WEST MEMPHIS LANDS HEAVY CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIER TO FILL LAST INDUSTRIAL SPACE
Des Moines, Iowa-based EFCO Corp. plans to bring a new re-fabrication manufacturing facility to West Memphis, filling the city’s last vacant industrial space with another top-notch employer in the construction industry.
EFCO, an international provider of engineered formwork and shoring solutions for the concrete industry, plans to move into the old Superior Building on South Avalon in the eastern Arkansas city by April 1, West Memphis officials said.
REGIONAL OUTLOOK SHOWS STEADY GROWTH IN STATE’S MANUFACTURING SECTOR, WAGES STILL LAG
Arkansas’ “blue collar” economy grew slightly in the month of February with strong improvements in new orders, production and employment levels, according to a monthly economic indicator for the nine-state Midwest region.
However, the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index for February still shows that some areas of the state’s manufacturing sector are feeling the post-recession blues, particularly those industries that produce durable goods. Arkansas worker wages are also still lagging well behind the rest of the nation, said Ernie Goss, director of Creighton University’s economic forecasting group.
TYSON, POULTRY SECTOR SUPPORT NEW ANTIBIOTIC POLICY AT McDONALD’S
Antibiotic use in animal production has long been an issue of debate among health officials and agricultural groups. But under consumer pressure, restaurant giant McDonald’s announced its commitment to end reliance on medically important antibiotics in its U.S. chicken supply.
Ironically both sides of the debate are claiming victory. McDonald’s move is a win for the consumer who might someday need an effective antibiotic, said Jonathan Kaplan of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).