Columbia Sportswear has hired Peter Ruppe, to lead it’s footwear initiative. Columbia owns two footwear brands -- Montrail and Sorel -- in addition to its namesake label. Ruppe, is a Reedsport, Oregon native. (Oregonian)

 

28 percent of Americans said the economy will get better in the next year, while 33 percent predict it will get worse according to a NBC/Wall Street Journal poll.  The number of Americans expecting the U.S. economy to get worse in the next year is at its highest point since 2013.

 

Forbes reported banks and credit unions have been making Small Business Administration loans at record volumes. SBA loans come with government guarantees against default that mitigates lender risk. 

 

According to the Farm Credit Administration’s “quarterly report on economic issues affecting agriculture,” the “USDA forecasts an 8 percent drop in net cash farm income in 2018.” 

 

A tweet from The UPS Store went viral after the company's joke about shredding kids' letters to Santa this holiday season didn't quite land. In a tweet that has since been deleted, the company said Sunday, "If your child addresses a letter to the North Pole, you can leave it with us. We do shredding." (CNBC)

 

With Northwest Quadrant Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor I am Troy Reinhart.