Fed rate increase should help take risk out of financial markets
Columns, Latest newsThe Federal Reserve’s decision to slowly begin the process of normalizing interest rates may not have all that much to do with the economy or inflation. The economy isn’t really overheated and any threat of inflation remains far off in the future. Parsing the Fedspeak of the Dec. 16 announcement that regulators are “reasonably confident” Read More →
Low gas prices great for tri-county consumers but not all businesses
Columns, Energy, Latest newsMarket disruptions have consequences. And the downward spiral in oil prices looks like the sort of disruption that could have far-ranging consequences. For one thing, we may be at the dawn of a decade where baby-boom era memories of gasoline lines fade and global demand for petroleum products is suppressed as China’s appetite for commodities Read More →
Dubroff: Small business owners not as optimistic as they should be
Columns, Tri-County EconomyDespite the growing hype around Small Business Saturday, the promotion developed by American Express that’s gotten some traction in the past few years, the nation’s small business owners aren’t really that happy a bunch. Writing in a Nov. 13 report, Scott Anderson, the chief economist for Bank of the West, notes that one recent indicator Read More →
Dignity Health investment in Central Coast paying off
Columns, Health Care & Life Science, Latest newsDuring the past five years, Dignity Health has made methodical moves to bolster the healthcare system in North Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. That strategy has paid off in improved patient care and better facilities. Now health care is emerging as an industry that attracts talent and capital. It’s an industry that has Read More →
Dubroff: UCSB grad school will help tech managers innovate in digital age
Central Coast, Columns, Latest news, TechnologyThe Central Coast has a growing reputation as a cool place for startups. But amid dozens of new ventures and talk of a tech-centric future looms the reality of growing a fully functional technology company. Listening to the earnings calls for AppFolio and MindBody, which recently had successful IPOs, you begin to realize just how Read More →
Dubroff: Region’s road warriors weary of business in the slow lane
ColumnsWhen mudslides shut Interstate Highway 5 through the Grapevine in mid-October, the effect on the Central Coast was immediate and severe. Thousands of cars and trucks had little choice but to travel via Highway 101 and they clogged the route from Ventura to Santa Barbara — a trip that takes 30 minutes in light Read More →
