Andy Wright has joined Memphis-based Magna Bank as senior vice president and manager of commercial banking. Wright, who previously held senior vice president positions at Iberiabank and First Tennessee Bank, has experience working with a variety of industries, with in-depth expertise in the transportation and logistics industries.

2. Housing, Manufacturing Give US Economy Lift - Wednesday, March 27, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Gains in housing and manufacturing propelled the U.S. economy over the winter, according to reports released Tuesday, and analysts say they point to the resilience of consumers and businesses as government spending cuts kick in.

3. Pinnacle Departure Brings Real Estate Challenge - Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Pinnacle Airlines Corp.’s relocation of its Memphis headquarters to Minneapolis by May should have long-term leasing effects on the Downtown office market.

4. US Economy Grew at 2.7 Percent Rate in Summer - Friday, November 30, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. economy grew at a 2.7 percent annual rate from July through September, much faster than first thought. The strength is expected to fade in the final months of the year because of the impact of Superstorm Sandy and uncertainty about looming tax increases and government spending cuts.

5. I-Bank Grows in Namesake East Memphis Office Tower - Friday, November 30, 2012

Independent Bank has expanded its headquarters at I-Bank Tower to primarily accommodate its Mortgage Lending Division.

6. Fed Likely to Send Wait-and-See Signal at Meeting - Wednesday, October 24, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — Six weeks ago, the Federal Reserve unveiled its latest plan to invigorate the U.S. economy. This week, the Fed will likely send a simple message:

Give that plan time to work.

7. US Home Construction Dips, but Signs Point Up - Friday, August 17, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. builders broke ground on slightly fewer homes in July than June. But in a hopeful sign for future construction, applications for building permits rose to their highest level since August 2008.

8. US Economic Outlook Brightens on Jobs, Trade Data - Friday, August 10, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The outlook for the U.S. economy brightened a little Thursday after new data pointed to improvement in hiring and greater exports.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits last week fell by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 361,000, the Labor Department said. Economists noted that the level suggests the modest job creation in July could carry over into August.

9. Consumer Spending Flat in May - Monday, July 02, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. consumers spent no more in May than in April after seeing almost no gain in their pay. The lack of growth in consumer spending and wages suggests that a faltering job market is slowing the economy.

10. Evans Joins MERI As Finance Director - Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Devonya Evans has joined the Medical Education & Research Institute as director of finance. Evans, a licensed certified public accountant, will be responsible for heading MERI’s finance and information technology departments.

11. Commercial Advisors Grows CRE Portfolio - Thursday, May 31, 2012

Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors Asset Services LLC is on a roll, picking up various leasing and management assignments that have brought its office and industrial involvement to 17.8 million square feet.

12. A Weaker First Quarter Doesn't Mean a Weak Year - Monday, April 30, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. economy grew more slowly in the first three months of this year. Governments spent less, and businesses cut back on investment. But consumers spent at the fastest pace in more than a year.

13. US Economic Outlook Brightens as Retail Sales Rise - Tuesday, April 17, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Americans bought more electronics, started home improvement projects and updated their wardrobes last month, inspired by warmer weather and a healthier job market.

U.S. retail sales rose 0.8 percent in March, the Commerce Department said Friday.

14. US Trade Deficit Grew to 3-Year High in January - Monday, March 12, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. trade deficit surged in January to the widest imbalance in more than three years after imports grew faster than exports.

Rising oil prices helped drive imports to a record high, as did stronger demand for foreign-made cars, computers and food products.

15. Jobs Picture Brightens, But Incomes, Spending Weak - Friday, March 02, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Steady declines in applications for unemployment aid are pointing to another strong month of hiring in February.

A healthy job market normally drives faster growth. But Americans' after-tax income actually fell in January, which led to a fourth straight month of weak consumer spending.

16. Eating In - Monday, February 20, 2012

Before a restaurateur nails down a concept, builds a menu or begins the financing process, solidifying a location reigns supreme.

The rule of thumb is especially prominent within Downtown Memphis, where many eateries are tucked away into office buildings and operate within hours that capitalize on daytime traffic and repeat business.

17. Elite Electric Relocates to Hickory Withe - Friday, February 03, 2012

A local electrical designer is relocating its operations from Collierville to Hickory Withe.

Elite Electric & Lighting Inc. has purchased 5,000 square feet of the former John Deere Landscapes facility at 2875 U.S. 64 from K&L Highway 64 Investments LLC for $425,000.

18. Incomes Up Strong 0.5 pct., Consumer Spending Flat - Tuesday, January 31, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Americans' income rose in December by the most in nine months, a hopeful sign for the economy after a year of weak wage gains. But consumers didn't spend any more than they had in November.

19. Economy Gains as Businesses Spend More, Fire Less - Friday, January 27, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Businesses are growing more confident in the economy, investing in more equipment and laying off fewer workers.

Government figures on manufacturing and unemployment claims released Thursday raised hopes on the eve of a report on how much the economy grew in the October-December quarter.

20. Bluff City Coffee Inks New Space - Friday, January 20, 2012

Bluff City Coffee, the coffee and snack shop in Downtown’s South Main Historic Arts District, has recently unveiled some aggressive expansion plans.

The local eatery has leased a 3,000-square-foot kitchen in the Pembroke Building, 119 S. Main St., in the space behind the Center for Southern Folklore.

21. CRE Activity Stays Strong During 2011 - Friday, December 30, 2011

Despite hard times, local commercial real estate firms were able to ink plenty of deals in the past 12 months.

Memphis’ industrial leasing activity kicked off in January when Buena Park, Calif.-based Pacific Logistics Corp. signed a 60,000-square-foot lease in ProLogis Park DeSoto for its first Memphis-area location.

22. Prolonged Recession - Monday, December 26, 2011

In the words of Phil Woodard, an owner of multiple residential and commercial properties in Downtown Memphis, breaking even is the new profit.

Or as national real estate expert Jonathan Miller said earlier this month at the Urban Land Institute’s Real Estate Outlook for the Mid-South, “We cannot expect to make money the way we did a few years ago.”

23. Colliers Signs Baker to First Site in Tenn. - Friday, December 09, 2011

Colliers International’s industrial team of Andy Cates, Preston Thomas and Mike Driscoll has inked 63 transactions this year. Here’s a rundown on a flurry of recent deals the trio has brokered.

24. Green Shoots - Monday, November 28, 2011

As the local commercial real estate market approaches the end of 2011, experts say it appears to be in line with national fundamentals for secondary and tertiary markets.

Shelby County commercial sales in the third quarter were the highest sales volume since Q3 2007, with $259 million, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

25. Consumers Hit Retail Stores to Give Economy Boost - Wednesday, November 16, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Consumers are giving a modest lift to the economy. They spent more on autos, electronics and building supplies in October to boost retail sales for the fifth straight month.

26. Heart of Memphis - Monday, November 14, 2011

The day before Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam was the keynote speaker this summer at the Downtown Memphis Commission’s 2011 Annual Luncheon, he went for a jog in Nashville wearing his “Believe Memphis” Grizzlies T-shirt.

27. New Façades - Monday, October 03, 2011

Local architecture firms have run the gamut with realignment strategies in combating the economic downturn, from reduction of footprints and overhead to reorganizing and rebranding.

In late 2009, Memphis-based Looney Ricks Kiss Architects Inc. filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition. The news sent shockwaves throughout the industry, as one of the city’s most prominent firms – behind landmark projects like AutoZone Park and AutoZone corporate headquarters, Riverside Drive, FedExForum, Harbor Town and the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, to name a few – was being forced to reorganize.

28. ITT Goulds Signs Lease In Southaven - Friday, September 23, 2011

A Seneca Falls, N.Y.-based industrial pumping system manufacturer has inked a deal for a distribution center across the parking lot from its current space in Southaven.

ITT Goulds signed a 68,508-square-foot lease in Industrial Development International Inc.’s Stateline Business Park Building C, at 8890 Commerce Drive.

29. Rebranding: Creating Local Personality - Wednesday, August 31, 2011

While the services of companies like Coca-Cola, Campbell’s Soup Co. and FedEx vary greatly, all three share a common thread that keeps its following coming back for more – a solid brand.

30. Tower Revival - Thursday, August 25, 2011

The reversal of fortune for the Downtown tower at the intersection of Main Street and Monroe Avenue, until recently plagued by falling occupancy and an uncertain future, was set in motion in a private meeting one year ago this month.

31. $20M in Improvements On Tap for One Commerce - Friday, August 12, 2011

Plans for $20 million in tenant improvements are coming right along at One Commerce Square.

Commercial Advisors LLC held a tenant meeting and appreciation lunch Thursday, Aug. 11, in the historic bank lobby, 40 S. Main St. The event was led by Gary Prosterman, president and CEO of Development Services Group and one of the partners in Memphis Commerce Square Partners LLC, the new ownership group of One Commerce.

32. $20M in Improvements on Tap for One Commerce - Thursday, August 11, 2011

Plans for $20 million worth of tenant improvements are coming right along at One Commerce Square.

Commercial Advisors LLC held a tenant meeting and appreciation lunch Thursday, Aug. 11 in the historic bank lobby, 40 S. Main St. The event was led by Gary Prosterman, president and CEO of Development Services Group and one of the partners in Memphis Commerce Square Partners LLC, the new ownership group of One Commerce.

33. Wharton Touts City’s Progress to MAAR Group - Thursday, July 28, 2011

The day after the October 2009 special city elections, local Panatoni Development Co. LLC partner Al Andrews showed up at Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr.’s door notifying him of a site location specialist conference in Atlanta that displayed a map with big red circles around certain areas of the country as places to avoid. Memphis was one of those.

34. Brokers Join Forces at Commercial Advisors - Monday, June 13, 2011

Until about six months ago, Bentley Pembroke and Phil Dagastino represented office landlords on an individual basis.

But following the recent signing of Electrolux’s 14,000-square-foot lease at One Commerce Square, 40 S. Main St., the duo decided to join forces as the exclusive office leasing team for Commercial Advisors Asset Services LLC.

35. Local Companies Working to Navigate Economic Straits - Monday, June 13, 2011

The financial services business seems like a tough one to be in these days.

Investors have for the last few weeks treated bank stocks like the piñata of Wall Street. Bankers, attorneys and investment professionals have boiled a massive government overhaul of the country’s financial regulations down to clipped phrases like “finreg” and “Dodd-Frank” that they speak of often with a grumble or a shaking of the head.

36. Pinnacle Awards Honor City’s Best Brokers - Monday, April 11, 2011

As emcee Dan Conaway noted in his opening address Thursday night at the 10th annual Pinnacle Awards, “OK is the new great.”

37. Pinnacle Awards Honor City's Best Brokers - Friday, April 08, 2011

As emcee Dan Conaway noted in his opening address Thursday night at the 10th annual Pinnacle Awards, “OK is the new great.”

38. Batter Up - Monday, April 04, 2011

Opening Day is right around the corner for the Memphis Redbirds, who will open the 2011 campaign with improvements to both its ballpark and its financial outlook.

The Redbirds, the minor league Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, on Thursday begin their 14th season in Memphis and 12th at AutoZone Park following the move from Tim McCarver Stadium in 2000.

39. WPG Americas Signs Lease in Southaven - Friday, March 18, 2011

A San Jose, Calif.-based worldwide electronics distributor is entering the Memphis area with full force.

WPG Americas Inc. has signed a 54,000-square-foot lease at Airways Distribution Center, 481 Industrial Drive, in Southaven. The project – a relocation of the WPG America’s New York facility – represents a $1.5 million investment by the company and will create 60 jobs over the next three years.

40. Inaugural Seminar to Focus on CRE Issues - Thursday, February 03, 2011

Despite commercial real estate’s doldrums, local brokers are seeing signs of resurgence.

Commercial real estate investments – such as malls, office buildings and industrial properties – reached $316 billion nationwide in 2010, according to Thomas Reuters. That represented a 50 percent jump from an eight-year low in 2009 of $209 billion.

41. Consumer Price Index Jumps on Costlier Gas - Monday, January 17, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer prices rose last month as the cost of gas increased by the largest amount since June 2009. But outside of energy costs, there was little sign of widespread inflation.

42. Moving Forward - Monday, December 27, 2010

As the commercial real estate market remained soft in 2010, a handful of major deals – including some to close the year – indicated light at the end of the tunnel.

The year ended with the top retail investment sale of the year when Loeb Properties Inc. bought Park Place Centre from Belz Enterprises Inc. for $10.3 million.

43. Holiday Shoppers Sprint to End; Retail Revenue Up - Thursday, December 23, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Holiday shoppers are racing to the end of the season at a more feverish pace this year, with retail revenue up 5.5 percent during the last weekend before Christmas.

The figure, released by ShopperTrak on Wednesday, is a drastic improvement from the same weekend last year, when revenue dropped 6.2 percent. The final shopping weekend last year was marred by a big East Coast snowstorm.

44. Stratos Move Another Example Of Downtown Trend - Tuesday, December 21, 2010

While the future of the Downtown office market is hard to predict, there’s no doubt the persona of the submarket is changing.

On the heels of the Great Recession, some companies are rebranding for better visibility. Others are moving closer to their clients. And then there are companies like ServiceMaster by Stratos Inc., which did both.

45. Consumers Give Holiday Shopping Season a Big Start - Wednesday, December 15, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – Retail sales rose for a fifth straight month in November, suggesting a strong holiday shopping season and raising hopes that consumers will boost the economy in the coming months.

46. Pinnacle a Boon for Downtown Office Market - Monday, November 01, 2010

Downtown occupancy rates have dropped in recent years as more business moved eastward, but many local real estate professionals hope other companies will mirror Pinnacle Airline Corp.’s recent decision to move Downtown.

47. August Retail Sales up 0.4 Pct., Best in 5 Months - Wednesday, September 15, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – Retail sales rose in August by the largest amount in five months, adding to evidence that a late spring economic swoon was temporary and not the start of another recession.

48. Auto Sales Boost Otherwise Weak Retail Sector - Monday, August 16, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – Americans spent less at most retail stores in July and inflation remained tame as high unemployment and weak job growth fueled fears of a slowing economic recovery.

A busy month for car dealerships and higher gas prices lifted overall retail sales 0.4 percent last month, the Commerce Department said Friday. It was the first overall gain in three months.

49. Retail Data: Americans Stayed Cautious in July - Thursday, August 05, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Worried about the stalling economic recovery, Americans remained reluctant to spend at stores in July, especially on pricier items like jewelry, though they let go of some money for travel, according to data released Wednesday.

50. Deal 'Huge' For Office Real Estate Market - Thursday, June 10, 2010

The lease that sent Glankler Brown PLLC from Downtown to East Memphis was one of the most significant commercial real estate deals inked all year, even in a city known for its abundance of large industrial transactions.

51. Glankler Brown Departs Downtown - Monday, June 07, 2010

Glankler Brown PLLC, a law firm that has been a Downtown mainstay for nearly a century, won’t renew its lease at One Commerce Square and will move to East Memphis.

52. Slow Recovery Keeps Unemployment High - Friday, May 28, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – The slow-motion pace of economic growth shows the recovery is too weak to generate enough jobs for 15.3 million unemployed people. And a still-elevated number of new filings for jobless benefits suggests layoffs continue to complicate the problem.

53. Consumer Rebound Gives Economy Solid Boost in Q1 ? - Monday, May 03, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. economy grew at a solid 3.2 percent pace during the first quarter of this year as consumers boosted their spending by the most in three years.

The Commerce Department’s initial estimate of the economy’s performance in the January-to-March quarter, released Friday, provided more evidence that the economy is strengthening. It marked the third straight quarterly gain as the United States heals from the longest and deepest recession since the 1930s.

54. Airport Officials Prepare For Beijing - Wednesday, March 31, 2010

In a few weeks, 10 Memphians will board an airplane for Beijing to represent this city at the Airport Cities Conference and Exhibition.

The event, which has been held in faraway places such as Athens, Greece, and nearby places like Dallas, is expected to draw 500 to 600 airport executives from facilities large and small across the globe.

55. CRE Market Sweats Tight Times - Tuesday, March 16, 2010

From Downtown to the eastern suburbs, from the airport to Millington, the landscape is bleak for commercial real estate brokers.

Everywhere they look, they see signs that the local market has endured and continues to endure its share of black eyes. In the past 12 months, for example, two of the area’s four biggest sales occurred on the Shelby County Courthouse steps.

56. New Report: Consumers Spent Modestly in January - Thursday, February 11, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) - Americans backed off from their holiday spending pace in January, but retail sales rose for a third month in a row compared with a year earlier, largely because of higher gas prices, according to figures released Wednesday.

57. Dewald Selected to Chair Life and Health Insurance Foundation - Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Jack Dewald will serve as chairman of the board for the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education.

Dewald is president and owner of Agency Services Inc.

58. Findings Pinpoint Lamar Corridor’s Troubles - Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Anyone who has traveled along Lamar Avenue between Interstate 240 and the Mississippi state line knows how congested it can get, with a seemingly endless line of trucks driving both directions and backing up traffic.
Members of the Greater Memphis Chamber’s aerotropolis initiative now have a better idea of the corridor’s horrendous deficiencies.
Cambridge Systematics Inc., a Cambridge, Mass.-based firm that studies transportation assets and needs nationwide, late last week presented the preliminary findings of its Lamar Avenue Corridor Study to the aerotropolis initiative’s access and transportation committee.
The message is clear and not at all surprising: Lamar Avenue has a host of problems that need to be resolved if Memphis wants to continue its role as a critical link in the global supply chain.
The study, which kicked off in the summer, is addressing traffic flows and transportation needs within the Lamar Avenue corridor – the area bordered by I-240 to the north, the Mississippi state line to the south, Interstate 55 to the west and Hickory Hill to the east.
Cambridge Systematics is conducting the study in conjunction with the Memphis Metropolitan Planning Organization, the University of Memphis’ Intermodal Freight Transportation Institute and the chamber.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation assigned Cambridge Systematics to the study following a request from MPO; TDOT has an ongoing contract with Cambridge Systematics to assist local planning organizations around the state.

59. Taking Off - Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Aviators attain flight and control the movements of their aircraft by precisely balancing the forces of lift, thrust, drag and gravity. The people piloting the aerotropolis initiative – the promotion of Memphis’ economy focused on the airport, other transportation assets and the connectivity among them – are negotiating their own set of physics in hopes of becoming airborne.

60. Taking Off - Monday, October 12, 2009

Aviators attain flight and control the movements of their aircraft by precisely balancing the forces of lift, thrust, drag and gravity. The people piloting the aerotropolis initiative – the promotion of Memphis’ economy focused on the airport, other transportation assets and the connectivity among them – are negotiating their own set of physics in hopes of becoming airborne.

61. Nat’l Jobless Rate Reaches 9.8 Percent - Monday, October 05, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) – The national unemployment rate rose to 9.8 percent in September, the highest since June 1983, as employers cut far more jobs than expected.

The report is evidence that the worst recession since the 1930s is still inflicting widespread pain and underscores one of the biggest threats to the nascent economic recovery: that consumers, worried about job losses and stagnant wages, will restrain spending. Consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of the nation’s economy.

62. Housing, Jobless Data Point To Fragile Recovery - Friday, September 18, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) – Housing construction rose in August and the number of newly laid-off workers seeking unemployment aid fell unexpectedly last week, adding to signs the recession has ended.

Still, the reports suggested a slow and fragile economic recovery. In part, that’s because the increased housing starts were due solely to a surge in construction of apartment buildings – while the much larger single-family homes sector fell for the first time in six months. And jobless claims remain far above the levels associated with a healthy economy.

63. Housing Construction up, But Picture is Mixed - Friday, September 18, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - Housing construction rose in August, but the results were mixed, with the large single-family sector falling for the first time in six months.

The August performance added to signs that the housing industry has begun to recover from its worst downturn in decades. Still, economists cautioned that the rebound likely will be slow and tentative, given the glut of unsold homes and record levels of home foreclosures.

64. Trade, Jobless Claims Figures Show Recession Fades - Friday, September 11, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. trade deficit in July hit the highest level in six months as a record rise in imports outpaced a third straight increase in foreign demand for American products, according to government data released Thursday. Both gains provided more evidence the worst recession since the 1930s was losing its grip on the global economy.

65. Single-Family Homebuilding Rises for 5th Month Nationwide - Wednesday, August 19, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) – Construction of new single-family homes rose for the fifth-straight month in July as more buyers walked into model homes ready to sign contracts, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

66. EmergeMemphis to Launch $1.3M Expansion - Tuesday, August 11, 2009

EmergeMemphis, the 10-year-old business incubator helping groom more than two dozen companies from its 60,000-square-foot space on Tennessee Street, is ready to grow up.

After two years of planning, EmergeMemphis is poised to expand its space for fledgling startups by developing the top floor of its building, a project that will cost $1.26 million.

67. Recession Eases; GDP Dip Smaller than Expected - Monday, August 03, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - The economy sank at a pace of just 1 percent in the second quarter of the year, a new government report shows. It was a better-than-expected showing that provided the strongest signal yet that the longest recession since World War II is finally winding down.

68. April Trade Deficit Edges up to $29.2B - Thursday, June 11, 2009

The U.S. trade deficit edged up in April as crude oil prices hit the highest level since December.

But the imbalance so far in 2009 remained well below last year’s pace, and economists expect that to continue as the global recession dampens demand for automobiles, heavy machinery and other goods.

69. April New Home Sales Inch Upward - Friday, May 29, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sales of newly built homes were flat in April, but are now 7 percent above the rock-bottom lows of January, another indication the three-year housing downturn could be ending.

70. Leading Indicators Rise More Than Expected in Jan. - Friday, February 20, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) – A private sector measure of U.S. economic activity jumped unexpectedly in January for a second straight monthly increase, mainly because of federal efforts to expand the money supply.

71. More Sour Economic Reports for Employment, Retail - Monday, February 09, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - More people sought unemployment benefits than expected last week and laid-off workers found it harder to land new jobs as the economy struggled to show signs of life.

Sour economic indicators Thursday also plagued the retail industry: Weak factory orders were reported for December and sales declines last month for many major stores raised concerns about the industry's health.

72. Layoffs Spike, Housing Rumbles; Outlook Worsens - Friday, January 23, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of newly laid-off Americans filing jobless claims and the pace of home construction both posted worse-than-expected results in government data released Thursday, lending urgency to the economic recovery plan President Barack Obama and Congress are scrambling to advance.

73. Employers Cut 533K Jobs in November - Monday, December 08, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) – Skittish employers slashed 533,000 jobs in November, the most in 34 years, catapulting the unemployment rate to 6.7 percent, dramatic proof the country is careening deeper into recession.

74. Retail Sales Plunge 1.2 Percent in September - Thursday, October 16, 2008

Retail sales fell off a cliff in September, plunging by the largest amount in three years as worried consumers shunned the malls and auto showrooms in the midst of the country’s financial meltdown.

75. Consumer Spending Hits Six-Month Low - Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Consumer spending in August turned in the weakest performance in six months, underscoring the threat the economy faces as the government’s stimulus program fades into the past.

The Commerce Department reported Monday that consumer spending was unchanged in August, even worse than the 0.2 percent gain economists had expected. It was the weakest showing since spending also was flat in February.

76. Economy Rebounds In Second Quarter - Friday, August 29, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) – The economy shifted to a higher gear in the spring, growing at its fastest pace in nearly a year as foreign buyers snapped up U.S. exports and tax rebates spurred shoppers at home.

77. Retail Sales Drop for First Time in 5 Months - Thursday, August 14, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) – Retail sales fell in July, the weakest performance in five months, as shoppers shunned autos and other big ticket items.

The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that retail sales dipped 0.1 percent last month when a variety of economic woes combined to blunt the impact of billions of dollars in government stimulus payments to U.S. households.

78. Trade Deficit Ebbs As Exports Rise - Monday, July 14, 2008

The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in May as exports – including industrial supplies and consumer goods – climbed to all-time highs.

The latest snapshot of trade activity, reported by the U.S. Commerce Department Friday, showed the nation’s trade gap, thanks largely to the declining dollar, decreased to $59.8 billion. That was down 1.2 percent from April’s trade deficit and was the best showing since March.

79. National Retail Sales Up, Up, Up – Jobless Claims, Too - Friday, June 13, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) – Retail sales jumped by the largest amount in six months in May as 57 million economic stimulus payments helped offset the headwinds buffeting consumers, while jobless claims also rose.

80. Retail Sales Dip but Sales Excluding Autos Show Strength - Wednesday, May 14, 2008

WASHINGTON - Consumers cut back on car-buying in April but boosted spending in a number of other areas, giving evidence of the economy's staying power in spite of soaring gasoline prices.

The Commerce Department said that retail sales overall dipped by 0.2 percent last month but much of that weakness stemmed from a 2.8 percent plunge in car sales, the biggest setback in this category in 10 months.

81. Events - Wednesday, March 19, 2008

The University of Memphis and the Performance Excellence Association of the Mid-South "Lunch and Learn" series will be held today from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Meritan, 4700 Poplar Ave. Dr. Jiada Mo, professor and graduate coordinator at the Mechanical Engineering Department of the University of Memphis, will present "The Chinese Connection." Lunch is $7 for PerfX members and $10 for nonmembers. For more information, e-mail hjbrowning@comcast.net or call 831-0230.

82. Retail Sales Rebound in January, Inventories Post December Increase - Thursday, February 14, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) - Shoppers put aside worries about the slumping economy to go to the malls and auto dealerships in January. That propelled retail sales to a surprising rebound following a dismal December.

83. Events - Tuesday, February 05, 2008

The Memphis Rotary Club will meet today at noon in the Steamboat Room of the Memphis Cook Convention Center, 255 N. Main St. A lunch buffet will be provided for $18. Shelby County Sherriff Mark Luttrell will speak on "What Citizens Can Do to Lower Crime." Reservations should be made to Taylor Hughes at 526-1318 or taylor@memphisrotary.org.

84. Events - Monday, February 04, 2008

The Engineers' Club of Memphis will meet today at noon at the Holiday Inn-University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. Cost is $12 and no reservations are required. Tom Burgess, chief engineer for the Tennessee Aeronautics Division of the Tennessee Department of Transportation, will present "Aeronautics in Tennessee."

85. Growth in Consumer Spending Slows While Construction Activity Drops Sharply - Monday, December 03, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) - Consumers battered by a slumping housing market and a credit crunch slowed the growth in spending to the smallest amount in four months. In another sign of weakness, construction activity fell by a larger-than-expected amount.

86. Retail Sales Weak, But Inflation Moderate - Friday, November 16, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) - Retail sales last month posted the weakest showing since August - a tiny 0.2 percent increase - as consumers struggled with the continuing housing slump and tighter credit conditions.

87. Economy GrowsAt 3.9% Pace in Summer - Thursday, November 01, 2007
     The economy picked up speed in the summer, growing at a brisk 3.9 percent pace, the fastest in one and a half years and an impressive performance even as a credit crunch plunged the housing market deeper into turmoil.88. Parkway Picks Commercial Alliance - Monday, April 23, 2007

Memphis-based Commercial Alliance Management LLC has been tapped to handle all new leases for a Downtown office portfolio that includes the Morgan Keegan Tower, Falls Building and Toyota Center.

Those buildings are owned by Jackson, Miss.-based Parkway Properties Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT) that had contracted last fall with Trammell Crow Co. to lease the properties.

89. Rowland Rises to Vice Chancellor Post at UTHSC - Wednesday, February 21, 2007

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center has appointed Steve Rowland as assistant vice chancellor for business. He is responsible for overseeing and administering the Business Services Unit and auxiliary services such as printing, mail services and student housing. Rowland holds a Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) designation from the Institute for Supply Management.

90. Joyner Joins Germantown M&F Bank - Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Todd C. Joyner has joined M&F Bank in Germantown as vice president/mortgage loan originator. In his new position, Joyner will be the regional production officer of North Mississippi and Tennessee. He is a member of the Memphis Mortgage Bankers Association, Memphis Homebuilders Association and the Germantown Chamber of Commerce.

91. Joyner Joins Germantown M&F Bank - Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Todd C. Joyner has joined M&F Bank in Germantown as vice president/mortgage loan originator. In his new position, Joyner will be the regional production officer of North Mississippi and Tennessee. He is a member of the Memphis Mortgage Bankers Association, Memphis Homebuilders Association and the Germantown Chamber of Commerce.

92. Melick Tapped to Manage Fixed Income Banking Group at Morgan Keegan & Co. - Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Jordan Melick has joined Morgan Keegan & Co. Inc. as a managing director for the firm's Fixed Income Banking Group. Melick previously was managing director of the health care finance team of Minneapolis, Minn.-based Piper Jaffray & Co. He began his career in health financing in 1991 at Detroit-based Comerica Bank.

93. Get to Work: Chamber Presents Regional Labor Study Results - Monday, June 19, 2006

June 19

The Mid-South Workers' Compensation Association meets at 11:30 a.m. at Holiday Inn Select, 5795 Poplar Ave. Guest speaker Dr. Carl Weiss of orthomemphis p.c. will discuss the patho-psychology and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome and other hand ailments. Cost is $20 for non-members. Send an e-mail to ccheely@hp.novacare.com for reservations.

94. Tranzon Asset Advisors SetTo Auction Commerce Center - Tuesday, June 06, 2006
    Tranzon Asset Advisors is conducting a sale-by-auction of Commerce Center, a 34-acre self-contained office campus that once served as world operations headquarters for FedEx Corp. The auction will be conducted June 28 at 11 a.

95. Events - Wednesday, March 01, 2006

The Memphis Regional Chamber presents its leadership luncheon series today from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Walnut Room of the Racquet Club, 5111 Sanderlin Ave. Charles W. Manning, chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, is the guest speaker. Cost is $25 for those with premium, standard and basic membership and free for chamber board of directors and board of advisors members. Call 543-3546 for reservations.

96. DeBerry Named 2005 Legislator of the Year - Wednesday, August 17, 2005

The Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police presented U.S. Rep. John DeBerry the Legislator of the Year award. DeBerry, who represents District 90 in Memphis, is chairman of the House Children and Family Affairs committee.

97. Archived Article: Real Recap - Tuesday, November 16, 2004
4730 Riverdale

Phillips Edison & Co. Buys Gleneagles Court

4730 Riverdale Road

Memphis, TN 38141

Cost: $7.8 million

Buyer: Gleneagles Station LLC, c/o Phillips Edison & Co.

Seller: Monumental Life Insurance Co.

Property:...

98. Archived Article: This Week - Monday, November 08, 2004
HEADLINE

GMAQ Hosts Regional Quality Conference

Nov. 9

The Association for Women in Communications meets at 11:45 a.m. at Napa Cafe, 5101 Sanderlin Ave. For reservations, e-mail ljones@mifa.org. The Memphis City Council meets at 3:30 p.m. a...

99. Archived Article: Financial Planning (lead) - Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Free Services Bring More to Financial Future

Added Services Help Banks Compete

No-cost services result in customer loyalty, bankers say

LANCE ALLAN

The Daily News

As the Memphis banking scene continues to experience changes brought ab...

100. Archived Article: Real Recap - Tuesday, August 24, 2004
1280 Germantown Road

Weston Cos. Plans Medical Office Complex

1280 Germantown Road

Germantown, TN 38138

Cost: $4.2 million

Buyer: Westco Development #33 LLC

Seller: WMT Germantown LLC

Property: 7.77 acres at 1280 Germantown Road...