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Daily Archives: August 26, 2008

Transportation Research Institute Study of Highway Traffic Deaths

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Is the U.S. on the Path to the Lowest Motor Vehicle Fatalities in Decades? by Michael Sivak, The University of Michigan, Transportation Research Institute

  • “Trends in U.S. motor vehicle fatalities, gasoline sales, and distance driven were examined for 12 months from May 2007 through April 2008. The results show substantial year-to year reductions in motor vehicle fatalities during this time period that cannot be fully explained by the reductions in gasoline sales and distance driven. This is especially the case for the latest two months examined (March and April 2008). Here, the reductions in motor vehicle fatalities averaged 20%, while the reductions in gasoline sales and distance driven were in low single-digits. Consequently, it appears that a major shift in driver behavior might be occurring. This shift may involve disproportionate reductions in distance driven for more risky driving conditions and for drivers with less income (who tend to have higher crash rates), as well as possible reductions in speeds as a means of increasing fuel economy. Should the March and April 2008 trends continue, the 2008 annual fatalities would drop to under 40,000 for the first time since 1961.”

    • EIA: Petroleum Supply Monthly and Electric Power Monthly

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    Petroleum Supply Monthly (August 2008) (08/26/2008): “Supply and disposition of crude oil and petroleum products on a national and regional level. The data series describe production, imports and exports, movements and inventories.” Electric Power Monthly (08/26/2008): “The latest EPM issue (July 2008) is now available. Data being published in the July 2008 EPM include April… Continue Reading

    Rate of House Price Declines Slows in the Second Quarter

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    Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) news release: “U.S. home prices fell in the second quarter of 2008 according to OFHEO’s seasonally-adjusted purchase-only house price index. The index, which is based on data from home sales, was 1.4 percent lower on a seasonally-adjusted basis in the second quarter than in the first quarter. This… Continue Reading

    Knowledge Transfer is Critical to Companies' Competitive Edge, as Large Numbers Of Boomers Retire

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    News release: “Most companies do not have a plan to manage and transfer knowledge and even fewer factor cross-generational challenges into business strategy, says a new report from The Conference Board… “As the Baby Boom generation of corporate leaders and experts approaches retirement, businesses in the U.S., Canada, and many European nations face the loss… Continue Reading

    Report: New York has the highest poverty rate of all northern states

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    Fiscal Policy Institute: “Despite several years of moderate economic growth, New York did not gain any ground in key areas of poverty and family incomes. New Yorkers were just as likely to be poor in 2007 as they were when the last recession in 2001, according to Census Bureau data released today. Also, the income… Continue Reading

    FDIC: Insured Bank and Thrift Earnings Fell to $5.0 Billion in the Second Quarter

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    News release: “Commercial banks and savings institutions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) reported net income of $5.0 billion in the second quarter of 2008, a decline of $31.8 billion (86.5 percent) from the $36.8 billion that the industry earned in the second quarter of 2007. With the exception of the fourth quarter… Continue Reading

    National Infrastructure Advisory Council: Insider Threat to Critical Infrastructures Report and Recommendations

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    Transmittal Letter: “The insider threat to critical infrastructures constitutes a real and significant threat because of the potential a trusted insider has to inflict serious damage, including cascading and cross-sector effects and economic interruptions from critical infrastructure service losses. While many critical infrastructure operators have programs or measures in place addressing this threat to some… Continue Reading