The Wall Street Journal reports that America’s retailers and manufacturers are adding inventories, resulting in near-record levels of shipments of goods through US ports. Some 1.72 million 20-foot containers worth of goods arrived at US ports in July. Automobile parts, furniture, and goods related to back-to-school needs were seen to have the largest growth.
Amazon will open a fulfillment center in Salem, its second in Oregon. The $90 million, 1 million-square-foot facility will be completed in fall of 2018. (OBN)
The Commerce Department said U.S. goods trade deficit increased 1.7% in July as exports fell 1.3%. Exports were weighed down by an 8.0% drop in shipments of motor vehicles. Imports fell 0.3%.
The Commerce Department also reported that wholesale inventories increased 0.4% in July. Retail inventories fell 0.2%.
The Consumer Confidence Index rose in August to 122.9
Consumer confidence is at its second best level this year. Those saying business conditions are "good" increased to 34.5%, while those who said business conditions were bad was 13.1%. (CNBC)
With Northwest Quadrant Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor I am Troy Reinhart.