Recovering car sales boost Canada retail sales
Fri Mar 20, 8:40 AM
OTTAWA (Reuters) - An unusual rise in new car purchases helped spur Canadian retail sales to their first increase since September, a greater-than-expected 1.9 percent, according to Statistics Canada data released on Friday.
The seasonally adjusted increase, the largest since July 2006, was a rare bright statistic after disappointing data for wholesale sales, manufacturing, foreign trade, employment and gross domestic product.
It followed a 5.2 percent decline in retail sales in December, the largest drop in over 15 years. The value of sales at new car dealers rose 6.4 percent in January after December's 15.1 percent decline.
The automotive sector as a whole, including gasoline, rose by 3.8 percent; excluding vehicles and parts, retail sales rose by 1.3 percent. A Reuters survey of analysts had predicted a 1.0 percent rise in retail sales and 0.3 percent excluding autos.
In a separate release, Statistics Canada said the number of new motor vehicle sold rose by 5.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted 119,231 units in January. In unadjusted terms, the number actually fell to 78,812 from December's 97,164.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Nebraska auto theft update!
Police make 3 arrests in Neb. missing-car case
By JOSH FUNK, Associated Press Writer Josh Funk, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 18 mins ago
OMAHA, Neb. – Police have arrested three executives from a troubled western Nebraska car dealership where 81 vehicles worth roughly $2.5 million — as well as the executives themselves — vanished in recent days.
Legacy Auto Sales owner Allen Patch, 52, and controller Rachel Fait, 37, were arrested separately in Tooele County, Utah, and were being held Thursday at the county jail. The dealership's 53-year-old general manager, Rick Covello, was driving one of the missing vehicles when he turned himself in to Scottsbluff police Thursday morning, Capt. Kevin Spencer said.
An arrest warrant affidavit said Fait may have embezzled more than $46,000 from the dealership in Scottsbluff, a western Nebraska town. The three were wanted on suspicion of theft.
By JOSH FUNK, Associated Press Writer Josh Funk, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 18 mins ago
OMAHA, Neb. – Police have arrested three executives from a troubled western Nebraska car dealership where 81 vehicles worth roughly $2.5 million — as well as the executives themselves — vanished in recent days.
Legacy Auto Sales owner Allen Patch, 52, and controller Rachel Fait, 37, were arrested separately in Tooele County, Utah, and were being held Thursday at the county jail. The dealership's 53-year-old general manager, Rick Covello, was driving one of the missing vehicles when he turned himself in to Scottsbluff police Thursday morning, Capt. Kevin Spencer said.
An arrest warrant affidavit said Fait may have embezzled more than $46,000 from the dealership in Scottsbluff, a western Nebraska town. The three were wanted on suspicion of theft.
Happiness
Sunshine +
Mountain views across the water +
Warmer temps +
Pine cones everywhere +
Daffodils +
Lambs in the field +
Employed +
Spring =
HAPPINESS!
Mountain views across the water +
Warmer temps +
Pine cones everywhere +
Daffodils +
Lambs in the field +
Employed +
Spring =
HAPPINESS!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
What NEXT in the US???
Scottsbluff dealership missing three bosses, dozens of cars
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — One by one, somebody loaded new Toyotas onto trucks Monday evening from the Legacy Auto Sales dealership in Scottsbluff and drove off into the night.
Toyota automobiles from Legacy Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota in Scottsbluff were loaded onto trucks Monday night. Dozens of cars were taken. Now plenty of people, including Scottsbluff police, want to know what's going on.
That includes Legacy employee Miranda Cervantes. She discovered Tuesday morning that the dealership's owner and two other officers had disappeared without a word to the staff. Also gone were more than 80 Ford and Toyota vehicles.
Employees found the desks of owner Allen Patch, comptroller Rachel Feit and general manager Rick Covello empty. Their computers also were gone.
"When I saw that, I knew something just isn't right," Cervantes said.
Scottsbluff Police Capt. Kevin Spencer confirmed that police were investigating removal of the vehicles as a possible crime.
Police said at least 81 vehicles are missing.
Cervantes said the cars disappeared from three lots in Scottsbluff — about 25 to 30 Fords and about 50 Toyotas. Police have been unable to contact Patch, Feit or Covello.
Cervantes said Toyota representatives contacted her Tuesday. Someone had reported that a large number of cars were missing from the lot.
"They asked me, 'What is going on there?' I told them everything, that the cars are all gone. . . . We (employees) don't have a clue. Employees were not told of any reason that the vehicles were removed."
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — One by one, somebody loaded new Toyotas onto trucks Monday evening from the Legacy Auto Sales dealership in Scottsbluff and drove off into the night.
Toyota automobiles from Legacy Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota in Scottsbluff were loaded onto trucks Monday night.
That includes Legacy employee Miranda Cervantes. She discovered Tuesday morning that the dealership's owner and two other officers had disappeared without a word to the staff. Also gone were more than 80 Ford and Toyota vehicles.
Employees found the desks of owner Allen Patch, comptroller Rachel Feit and general manager Rick Covello empty. Their computers also were gone.
"When I saw that, I knew something just isn't right," Cervantes said.
Scottsbluff Police Capt. Kevin Spencer confirmed that police were investigating removal of the vehicles as a possible crime.
Police said at least 81 vehicles are missing.
Cervantes said the cars disappeared from three lots in Scottsbluff — about 25 to 30 Fords and about 50 Toyotas. Police have been unable to contact Patch, Feit or Covello.
Cervantes said Toyota representatives contacted her Tuesday. Someone had reported that a large number of cars were missing from the lot.
"They asked me, 'What is going on there?' I told them everything, that the cars are all gone. . . . We (employees) don't have a clue. Employees were not told of any reason that the vehicles were removed."
Friday, March 6, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Infiniti @ Geneva
The Infiniti Essence is a two-seat, rear-drive concept with a hybrid powertrain that is rated at nearly 600 hp. Infiniti says the Essence shows design cues for future vehicles.Me thinks this would handle the curvy mountain roads where I live, and make my commute to and from work much more lively!
Good news.
Well, after a long search for a family Doctor we finally found one, with the help of some friends! Today was my day for a physical, not my favorite activity to be sure, and to get the results of my blood lab work. On a slow steady march to the half-century mark my mind has been full of worst-case health scenarios, mainly because of so many cancer deaths in my family. Even though I never smoked I was concerned about growing up in a house with one parent that smoked and being exposed to second hand smoke. My tests have turned out completely fine and the Dr assures me that the second hand smoke think is really nothing to worry about. PSA test, for prostate health, was fine, as was cholesterol, blood pressure, weight and fat content. My blood sugar was a bit high so I have to now start an exercise program and get checked again in 6 months. The high reading is not enough to sound any alarm bells and she thinks exercise will get that under control, if there indeed is anything to control. My number was 6.1 with the high end of the normal range being 6.0.
I guess I'll be around for a while longer. Hopefully this clean West Coast living will give me an extra boost to make it to 95 or so.
I guess I'll be around for a while longer. Hopefully this clean West Coast living will give me an extra boost to make it to 95 or so.
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