We start the day with consumer confidence being at its highest level since late 2007, just before we slipped into the Great Recession. The index stands at 82.3 driven higher by better outlooks for increased hiring and improved business conditions. (Business Insider)

Durable goods orders, ex aircraft, in February rose 0.2% versus being up 0.9% in January.  (Department of Commerce)

Home prices in America’s 20-largest cities climbed 13.3% during the last 12-months according to January data.  Since the bottom of the index in 2013 home prices have rebounded 23%.  Portland, which is included in the survey, was right at the national average. (S&P/Case-Shiller)

Oregon’s personal income grew 3.5% last year adding $5.4 billion to the economy. Oregon’s per capita income is $40,233 which is only 90% of the national average, a gap that has been growing since 1990 when the spotted owl crippled the forest products industry. We are number 32 in national per capita income. (Oregon Live)

Another example of the death of DVD comes from Oregon media measurement company Rentrak.  They are selling their “Pay-Per-Transaction” business that measures DVD rentals.  They say as viewers move to other medium their revenue from the business has fallen from $100 million in 2006 to $7 million in 2013. (Oregon Live)