Economy

Homebuyers left empty-handed after filing for tax credit

The homebuyer tax credit sounded like a good idea: buy a house, and get thousands of dollars from the government. However, thousands of people are still waiting for their money, and some are frustrated.

Ore. jobless rate holds steady at 10.6 percent

Although the May unemployment rate is a point better than the 11.6 percent rate in May 2009, it has barely nudged since the end of last year.

Local town embraces Walmart superstore

More than 1,500 people are trying to get jobs at the new "Super Walmart" opening in Cornelius in September. Others are hoping the store could provide revitalization for this small Oregon town.

Poll finds debt-dogged Americans stressed out

About 46 percent of those surveyed say they're suffering from debt-related stress, and half of that group described their stress as "great deal" or "quite a bit." On the other hand, about 53 percent say they feel little or no stress at all.

Bend home prices still dropping fast

Statistics released Tuesday by the Federal Housing Finance Agency show house prices in Bend dropped 23 percent between the first quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2010.

Now hiring: Social and employment services

All but one of the major industries in the Portland metropolitan area, stretching from Hillsboro into Southwest Washington, added jobs in April. Find out which industries have hired hundreds of new workers.

Doughnuts pave Cambodian family's path to America

When Phat and Sokhan Ong first started working at an Oregon doughnut shop, they didn't know a bismarck from a bear claw.

Foreclosure crisis grinds on in Q1

More than 10 percent of homeowners had missed at least one mortgage payment in the January-March period, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Wednesday. That number was up from 9.5 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.

A fix for Social Security's shortfall?

The United State's federal Social Security program will suffer a $5.3 trillion shortfall over the next 75 years. However, a new report also found some modest tweaks that could erase the gap.

Ore. jobless rate remains 10.6 percent

Officials said there also was some improvement in seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment, which rose by 3,900 jobs. That follows a loss of 700 in March.