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SCORECARD
The Most Environmentally- Friendly Cars -
2007
Improving fuel efficiency means conventional
cars are challenging hybrids!
The "Top Five" available (?) in the US - Score
(Higher is better)
- Smart (Roadster) 66.2
- Smart (Fortwo cabrio) 59.8
- Ford (Ka, 1.3 Duratec) 27.5
- Toyota (Yaris, 1.0) 27.2
- Fiat (Panda 100 HP) 23.6
- Mini (R56, Cooper D) 23.6
- Toyota (Prius 1.5) 23.2
Note: Some may only available "Grey Market".
The "Best in class"
- Large off-road - BMW X5
- Small off-road - Toyota RAV4
- Roadster sport - Lotus Elise S
- Large family - Toyota Prius
- Small family - Mercedes A-class
- Super mini - Smart
The "Worst in class"
- Large off-road - Range Rover
- Small off-road - Landrover Freelander
- Roadster sport - Mercedes SLK
- Large family - Ford Mondeo 3.0
- Small family - Ford Focus 2.5
- Super mini - Renault Clio 197
Source: Financial Times London, Clifford
Thames/Cardiff University, Sep 2007
Commercial Real Estate Poised for Online
Growth
Cities & Counties - Are your websites ready?
- The online realm for buying, selling and leasing
commercial space holds tremendous potential, says
John Suryan, president of Seattle-based property
listing service OfficeSpace.com.
- "Most current commercial Web sites list content
for the benefit of the real estate community, the supply
side of the business. Very little is geared toward
tenants, the demand side of the business - unlike
residential, where it is reversed," Suryan
says. "Commercial has always lagged residential
when it comes to using the Internet to market
properties for sale and particularly for lease."
- About three-fourths of all residential property
sales last year were initiated by an Internet search.
Steve Condrey, vice president of sales and marketing
at office leasing and sales site BuildingSearch.com,
believes commercial real estate will follow suit.
BuildingSearch.com has been building its database
for about a year. The domain name was registered 10
years ago.
- But the commercial sector is slowly firming up its
position on the Web as competition increases for
domain names oriented toward that business.
OfficeSpace.com is among the pioneers in e-
commerce for the commercial real estate business.
Launched in 1996, OfficeSpace.com is a free-of-
charge listing service for more than 1 billion sq. ft. of
property in seven U.S. markets and São Paulo, Brazil.
- OfficeSpace.com makes money primarily by
highlighting certain listings, offering memberships to
real estate agents and selling market intelligence like
pending corporate relocations. The site receives
about 1.5 million hits a month and is set to grow next
year to accommodate listings from anywhere in the
U.S.
BuildingSearch.com, a competitor of
OfficeSpace.com, currently features about 30,000
listings in California and will raise venture capital in
the next four months to fuel a nationwide expansion,
Condrey says. Advisers and investors include three
former or current executives from Colliers International
Inc. The Morgan Hill, Calif.-based outfit charges $25 a
month to search its site, and $45 a month to highlight
certain property listings as well as to rallow searches.
- For now, two publicly traded companies - CoStar
Group Inc. (NYSE: GSCP) and LoopNet Inc. (NYSE:
LOOP) - are the behemoths of Web-based
commercial property listings. And more newcomers in
the vein of BuildingSearch.com appear to be on the
Web horizon.
- Nonetheless, CoStar is unfazed. Andrew
Florance, president and CEO of CoStar, recently told
financial analysts that no emerging competitors have
shown up on the company's radar screen.
- For its part, LoopNet keeps chugging along,
consistently registering year-over-year growth of about
30%. To bolster its growth, LoopNet in August bought
New York-based online commercial real estate listing
service CityFeet.com for $18 million. LoopNet says it
may snap up other small players like venture capital-
backed CityFeet.com.
- New York-based SmallBizRealty Inc. is fueling the
growth of some of the small players. The company
recently marketed for sale more than 160 generic
domain names aimed at commercial real estate
brokers, developers, owners, REITs and related
businesses. Jeffrey A. Landers, founder and
president, says his company has been buying the
names since 1998 to ward off potential rivals.
SmallBizRealty operates Offices2share.com, an
online marketplace for office space.
- As of early October, three names in
SmallBizRealty's domain portfolio had been sold:
Subleases.com, OfficeSpaceForLease.com and
RentAnOffice.com. Still up for grabs are names like
FindAnOffice.com, MedicalOfficeSpace.com and
OfficeSpaceListings.com.
- "Purchasing these domain names is similar to
making a real estate deal," Lander says. "There is an
initial investment, but if the domain names bring in
new clients, there will be a significant return on that
investment."
- Andrew Allemann, editor of the Domain Name
Wire news site, says a desirable domain name
typically costs a few hundred to a few thousand
dollars. Larger sums are being paid for generic
names with .com extensions, as Web users are more
apt to type in .com than .net, .biz or other, less
customary extensions.
- Recently, realestateinvestor.com fetched $500,
while real-estateinvestor.com went for nearly $500
and realestateinvestmentsolutions.com sold for $100,
reports domain name broker Sedo.com LLC. Six- and
seven-figure domain name deals are rare for any
industry on the Web.
- "If you had the exact term that defines a whole
category - like OfficeLeasing.com - that could easily
be a six-figure sale," says Ron Jackson, editor of trade
magazine Domain Name Journal. "If you had one of
the thousands of variations on the office leasing
theme, it would be worth much less."
- Landers says he sees a "land grab" taking place
for generic commercial real estate domain names like
the ones in his portfolio - those not tied to a
particular company or brand.
- "I'm looking at these names as real estate
themselves," Landers says. "I consider these names
unique and hard to replicate. These names are
valuable."
Source: NREI Technology, 2007
Small towns receive retail
facelift
Developers are investing in sleepy New
England towns, creating mixed-use town-center
environments that incorporate retail, residential, office
space and restaurants. Why not here?
In Franklin, Westborough, Lincoln, and
other western suburbs, developers and local officials
want to spend millions to revive their town centers.
The goal is to create character - in a modern New
England village. And it's not just about adding condos
and shopping. The ingredients include outdoor dining,
public art, mass transit, wrought-iron lampposts, and
bike racks.
- Lincoln's town center is hardly a hotbed of activity.
A speed bump greets visitors driving in on the main
drag.
- Yet last week, a developer broke ground on a $7
million project to renovate a local shopping center and
erect a 2 1/2 story building in this no-stoplight
downtown. There are even plans for a restaurant, with
the town's first-ever liquor license.
- "Everyone's a little nervous," said Cathy Jahrling,
one of the few customers grocery shopping at
Donelan's Market in the town center on a recent
morning. "Change doesn't come easily to Lincoln."
- The same could be said of many New England
cities and towns, yet change is on the way. In Franklin,
Westborough, Marlborough, and other communities,
private developers are building multimillion-dollar
projects aimed at recreating downtown centers, often
in their own image. The goal of some of the projects is
to mimic the look and feel of a New England village,
creating space for merchants, new apartments, and
even new public commons.
- The investment is anything but common. In
Franklin, there is $28 million in construction. A
Westborough developer won't disclose the cost of its
23-acre downtown redevelopment project, except to
say it is in the tens of millions.
- The changes don't come without public debate.
Downtowns are often the psychological epicenter of
their communities. In Newton, a city task force has
been at odds for months over how to redevelop that
city's center.
- But Robert D. Yaro, a planning professor at the
University of Pennsylvania and a former faculty
member at Harvard and the University of
Massachusetts, said the transformation is a
sweeping one in "reaction to the monoculture of the
suburbs."
- Villages need more than 3-bedroom, 3-bath
megamansions and conservation land, he said.
- "Many towns have done a great job preserving
their physical character, but not their characters," Yaro
said, referring to the loss of affordable downtown
housing and the population that once lived in urban
centers. "They've gotten to be less interesting places,
so now they're transforming dramatically."
- In Lincoln, town officials are working with a local
nonprofit developer to build a grocery store and
expand the post office. In Franklin, a private developer
will build offices, condos, and what local officials
envision as a downtown sculpture park. In
Westborough, a private developer is building luxury
condos and retail with parking on the site of a former
industrial abrasives factory. In Marlborough, a private
developer will turn an old printing factory on the
outskirts of downtown into dozens of luxury
apartments.
- Dennis Frenchman, chairman of urban planning
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said it's
hard to predict whether such projects can bring back
downtown centers.
"Can a single project that's rather large in scale,
relatively speaking, add to the quality of life and sense
of place? Or does it have to be built from the
bottom up?" he asked. "That's a classic urban design
question."
Continued Next Week Boston Globe, 2007
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Greetings!
- The "Best & Worst" environmentally friendly
cars
- Utah Economic Snapshot
- Who's sales
taxes are up?
- Who's sales taxes are down?
- Mixed use in small towns?
- Grants
- Economic notes
- This weeks leads
Bob Springmeyer
Bonneville Research
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| Utah Economic Snapshot |
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Utah Labor Market Indicators - Sep 2007
(Aug 07)
- Employment Growth: 4.4% (4.5%)
- Employment Increase: 53,500 (56,800)
- Unemployment Rate: 2.7 %(2.7%)
Source:
Utah Dept of Workforce Services, 10/16/07
U.S. Labor Market Indicators - Sep 2007
(Aug 07)
- Employment Growth: 1.2% (1.3%)
- Unemployment Rate: 4.7%(4.6%)
Source: Utah Dept of Workforce Services, 10/16/07
Where Are the Jobs? - Sep
2007
- State Total (07-06) - 53,500 +4.4%
- Salt Lake County (45%) - 24,179 +4.1%
- Utah County (20%) - 10,578 +5.8%
- Weber County (5.5%) - 2,959 +3.2%
- Davis County (5.2%) - 2,759 +2.7%
- Washington County (4.9%) - 2,590 +4.8%
Source: Utah Dept of Workforce Services,
10/16/07
What is Our Business? - Sep
2007
- State Total - 56,822 +4.7%
- Health Services and Social Assistance - 10,900
+3.9%
- Accommodation and Food Services - 9,600 +4.2%
- Administration & support & Waste Mgm't &
Remediation - 7,900 +3.0%
- Specialty Trade Contractors - 7,800 +13.1%
- Food Services and Drinking Places - 7,800
+4.2%
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services -
6,600 +6.8%
Source: Utah Dept of Workforce Services, 10/16/07
What kinds of New Jobs? - Sep
2007
- State Total - 53,500 +4.4%
- Specialty Trade Contractors - 9,000 +13.1%
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services -
4,300 +6.9%
- Health Services and Social Assistance - 4,100
+3.9%
- Accommodation and Food Services - 6,800 +4.2%
- Food Services and Drinking Places - 3,800
+4.2%
- Finance and Insurance - 3,100 +5.6%
Source: Utah Dept of Workforce Services, 10/16/07
Economic Snapshot - First Qtr
FY2008
Utah State Government
- Sales and Use Taxes (Gen Gov't)
-0.3%
- Individual Income Taxes (Education)
+7.9%
- Individual Income Tax Withholding (Education)
+8.0%
- Corporate Franchise Taxes (Gen Gov't)
-15.2%
- Motor Fuel Taxes (Transportation)
+7.7%
- Severance Taxes (Gen Gov't)
-10.2%
- Wine and Liquor Taxes (Education)
-49.2%
Source: Utah State Tax Commission, TC-23
10/15/07
Economic Snapshot - First Qtr
FY2008
Local Government
- Local Sales and Use Taxes
+6.3%
- Tourism, Recreation, Cultural, Convention
+23.2%
- Public Transit
+44.0%
Source: Utah State Tax Commission, TC-23
10/15/07
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| Economic Notes: |
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Economic Notes:
- International Business Confidence
- Global business confidence has stabilized at a
low level consistent with a slowly expanding economy.
Confidence is weakest in the U.S., followed by
Europe. Asian and South American confidence is
notably stronger. Sentiment is weakest among those
in housing and financial services, and strongest
among high-tech firms. Businesses continue to
respond negatively to the survey's broader questions
regarding present business conditions and the six-
month outlook, but are more upbeat when responding
to more specific questions regarding investment and
payrolls.
- Treasury International Capital Flows
- Net long-term TIC flows in August went negative,
dropping to a startling -$69.3 billion; this contrasts
with the positive inflow of $19.5 billion in July, and
$99.9 billion in June.
- Conference Board Leading Indicators
- The Conference Board index of leading indicators
rose 0.3% in September. August was revised down to -
0.8% from -0.6% on weaker-than-assumed
manufacturing components. Higher stock prices,
lower jobless claims and longer delivery times in the
manufacturing sector contributed to the gain this
month.
- CPI
- The seasonally adjusted consumer price
increased 0.3% in September, after falling 0.1% in
August and rising 0.1% in July. Key contributors to the
increase in consumer prices were the food and
energy components, which increased by 0.5% and
0.3%, respectively, in September. The core index,
which excludes food and energy prices, increased by
0.2% in September, which is unchanged from August.
Over the past year, core CPI inflation has run at a 2.1%
rate, which is unchanged from the previous month.
While the topline reading came in 0.1 of a percentage
point higher than the consensus had expected, the
core reading was in line with consensus expectations.
- NAHB Housing Market Index
- Homebuilder optimism decreased another two
points to 18 in October, a drop of 18 points total since
March. Overall, the index is down in virtually every
component. In fact, the traffic of potential buyers index
value of 15 is an exceedingly low number, signaling
that the bottom of the housing market appears
nowhere in sight.
- New Residential Construction (C20)
- Housing starts decreased 10.2% to 1.191 million
units in September. Housing permits decreased 7.3%
during the month. Expect the market to remain soft
throughout the year, even with the FOMC lowering the
fed funds rate target by 50 basis points.
- MBA Mortgage Applications Survey
- Mortgage demand increased 0.7% in the week
ending October 12. Purchase applications increased
2.1% and refinance applications decreased 1.1%.
Application activity has weakened from a week ago,
and is likely to remain weak over the next several
months to come.
- Chain Store Sales
- Chain store sales grew 1% in the week ending
October 13, the largest gain in 11 weeks, according to
the ICSC. Year-over-year growth rose to 2.5% despite
a gain in sales in the comparable week last year.
Warm weather remained a drag on sales, but a
smaller one than recent weeks.
- Quarterly Household Credit
- Credit quality deteriorated further in the third
quarter as borrowing moderated. The aggregate
dollar delinquency rate jumped to its highest level on
record on a dollar basis, although some segments
remain relatively immune to the housing market woes.
There is some impact on borrowing patterns,
however, as slowing mortgage balance growth is
partially offset by faster bankcard balance growth.
- Industrial Production
- Industrial production rose by 0.1% in September,
including a similar gain in manufacturing output.
August was revised down to unchanged from 0.2%.
Mining output was up 0.2%, while utilities output was
off 0.1% following August's surge. Capacity utilization
was unchanged at 82.1%.
- California Manufacturing Survey
- The third quarter purchasing managers' index for
California indicated an expanding factory sector in the
state despite the recent housing woes. Nevertheless,
at 56.8, the index represents a decreased rate of
expansion from the previous quarter.
- Oil and Gas Inventories
- Crude oil inventories rose by 1.8 million barrels for
the week ending October 12, according to the Energy
Information Administration, above expectations of a
0.9 million barrel build. Distillate supplies rose by 1.0
million barrels; analysts were expecting a modest
decline. Gasoline inventories surged by 2.8 million
barrels, above expectations. Refinery activity fell from
87.8% to 87.3%. Today's report should help take an
edge off crude.
Source: Economy.com, Financial Times 2007
Grants
Stop Gangs Now!
- Gang Resistance Education and Training
(G.R.E.A.T.) Program
- POSTED: 10/15/2007
- FUNDING SOURCE: Dept. of Justice
- ELIGIBILITY: Law enforcement agencies
- $ AVAILABLE: N.A.
- GRANTS AVAILABLE: N.A.
- MAX GRANT SIZE: $150,000
- DEADLINE: 12/13/07
- CONTACT INFORMATION:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/08GREATsol.pdf
- DESCRIPTION: Grants to prevent gang activity by
immunizing youth against delinquency, violence, and
gang membership via instruction from law
enforcement officers. Lessons focus on providing life
skills to students to help them avoid engaging in
delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems.
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| No tell motel |
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Japan has about 25,000 "love hotels", which
provide short-stay locations for couples. An
estimated 2 per cent of Japan's adult population visit
a love hotel every day. The industry has
approximate annual revenues of £17.5bn ($35.6B
USD) a year, more than the UK's entire hotel market,
with each room used up to three times daily.
Source: The Financial Times, London
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| This Weeks Leads: |
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- Anchor Blue
- Hub Distributing, Inc. trades as Anchor Blue at
216 locations throughout AZ, CA, CO, FL, ID, NM, NV,
OR, TX, UT and WA.
- The stores, offering
moderately priced, casual apparel for young men and
women, occupy spaces of 4,500 sq.ft. to 5,500 sq.ft. in
malls and power centers.
- Growth opportunities
are sought throughout AZ, CA, CO, FL, NV, OR, TX and
WA during the coming 18 months.
- Typical leases
run seven years.
- Preferred cotenants include
food courts and department stores.
- Preferred
demographics include a population of 250,000 within
five to seven miles earning $50,000 as the average
household income.
- Major competitors include
American Eagle, Hollister and Pacific Sunwear.
- For more information, contact
- Ken
Monahan,
- Hub Distributing, Inc.,
- PO Box
5996,
- Ontario, CA 91761-7657;
- Web site:
www.anchorblue.com.
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| BONNEVILLE RESEARCH - People, Passion & Pride |
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Successful client work requires a superior team of
outstanding people working fluidly together.
Bonneville Research is committed to excellence.
We work to help clients achieve enduring results
and improve the communities in which we live.
BONNEVILLE RESEARCH
Bonneville Research is a Utah-based consulting
firm providing economic, financial, market and policy
research to public and private sector clients
throughout the intermountain west.
Our services include:
- Financial Analysis
- Business License Studies
- Impact Fee analysis
- Urban Renewal & Redevelopment
Analysis and Budgets
- Strategy and Policy Analysis
- Economic and Fiscal Impact Analysis
- Statistical and Survey Research
Each of our studies is tailored to address the
unique needs of our clients and their communities.
If we can help, please call or email us at
- Bob
- 801-364-5300
- BobSpring@BonnevilleResearch.com
- Jon
- 801-746-5706
-
JonSpring@BonnevilleResearch.com
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