With the Bend Broad Band sale to Chicago based Telephone and Data Systems we have seen firsthand changes in the cable/data business.  That continues as it looks like a DirecTV/AT&T merger could be closer. DirecTV has hired Goldman Sachs as an advisor in looking at the deal. (Reuters)

New weekly unemployment claims fell 26,000 to 319,000 last week. Another good jobs number showing improvement. (Fox Business)

It is the spring home buying season and weekly mortgage applications are jumping.  Applications were up 5.3% last week.  Most of the gain was in new purchase applications, but refinancing also saw gains. For the first time since 2009 new purchase applications were greater than refinancing applications in total. (Mortgage Bankers Association)

Under the category – “Why is Japans Economy Such A Mess” – their population fell for a 3rd year and the percentage of the population above 65 set a global record.  Japan has the world’s lowest birth rate and 25% of the population is 65 years old and greater. (Bloomberg)

Oregon’s fourth generation company Pape’ Machinery is buying Central Point based Floyd A. Boyd Company adding to its John Deere equipment dealerships.   Pape’ has four locations in Oregon and one in northern California.