BizJournals Portfolio
Home >   Business Views, Opinions and Blogs >   Business Blogs >  

The Business Blotter

The Business Blotter

Recent Blog Posts

Apr 10 12 7:48am EDT

A Small-Business Bummer

Small-business optimism as measured by the National Federation of Independent Businesses fell for the first time in six months in March. Continue


Apr 06 12 8:53am EDT

Unemployment Drops a Bit in March

The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 8.2 percent in March as employers added 120,000 jobs, the Labor Department reported Friday. That jobs-added number may disappoint. Continue


Apr 02 12 8:37am EDT

IPOs Have a Very Good First Quarter

The first quarter of 2012 is over, and by early indications, it was a very good one for U.S. businesses that made the leap from private to public company. According to Dow Jones VentureSource, 20 companies held IPOs from January through March, making it the most active IPO quarter since the fourth quarter of 2007—right before the Great Recession really started to be felt. Continue


Mar 30 12 12:48pm EDT

Consumers Feeling Frisky

Consumer confidence rose to its highest level in more than a year in March, as consumers' optimism about the job market overcame their distaste for higher gas prices. Continue


Mar 09 12 8:38am EDT

Jobs Picture Improves in February

The nation's steadily improving employment situation got even a bit better in February as the government reported the addition of 227,000 jobs for the month. The unemployment rate, however, stayed steady at 8.3 percent, the Labor Department reported this morning. Continue


Mar 01 12 5:07pm EDT

Why America Isn’t Shopping

Half of Americans are struggling to afford the necessities, six-figure earners feel poor, and Generation Y is no longer retail’s hot spot. That’s the verdict from a startling new retail report.  Continue


Feb 07 12 8:12am EDT

Young Presidents' Optimism Rebounds

The outlook for young company leaders brightened in the fourth quarter, and they're looking for further economic improvement ahead. Continue


Feb 03 12 8:56am EDT

Unemployment Rate Drops to 8.3 Percent

The U.S. economy added 243,000 jobs in January, far more than had been expected, and the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent from 8.5 percent. Continue


Jan 26 12 4:59pm EDT

Survey Says: Business Owners Want Better Banks

A survey from a trio of Washington groups shows small-business owners want better access to capital and more job-creating policies from government. Continue


Jan 13 12 10:18am EDT

2011 Sees Biggest Retail Gains in Decade

U.S. retailers saw record sales in 2011—and the biggest gains since 1999—although the year ended, oddly, with a yawn in December.  Continue


Connect With Portfolio.com
Like Portfolio on Facebook

Come on, like us—you know you want to.

Follow Portfolio on Twitter

Follow us and if you're an innovative entrepreneur, we'll return the favor.

The Mix

Today's top stories, conversation starters, and the back nine business bites.

spotlight on

People & Ideas

Bagels With a Schmear of Geek

Since tech startups tend to be magnets for funding and attention, it stands to reason that other types of startups would look to their business plans for inspiration. But a bagel shop? Read More