Businesses along stretches of Main Street and Wilton Road where flooding took place during the December 2023 storm have experienced a wide array of damages and possible re-opening plans.
Business
Local, state and national business news from the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.
Retail sales fall 0.8% in January from December as shoppers pause after strong holiday season
Economists attributed part of the pullback to snowy weather, but they also said the slowdown shows that shoppers may finally be buckling under higher interest rates and other financial hurdles.
Recession has struck some of the world’s top economies. The U.S. keeps defying expectations
Both Japan and the United Kingdom said Thursday their economies weakened for a second straight quarter, which fits one lay definition for a recession.
Mainers spent $80 million more than necessary on electricity in last 6 years, advocate says
A new report from Maine’s Office of the Public Advocate has renewed concerns about the state’s competitive power marketplace.
Artificial intelligence, real emotion. People are seeking a romantic connection with the perfect bot
The generative artificial intelligence boom has led to the emergence of more companion chatbots.
Cisco Systems to lay off more than 4,000 workers in latest sign of tighter times in tech
The layoffs represent about 5% of the networking giant’s workforce.
In southwest Florida, high home insurance rates are driving away would-be buyers
Now, the buildup in inventory has caused home prices to fall at some of the fastest rates in the nation.
Maine lobstering gear linked to right whale death for first time
Officials have not confirmed whether the Maine gear caused the death of the whale found dead in Massachusetts in January.
State panel rejects proposed mine near Baxter State Park
The Land Use Planning Commission voted 5-2 Wednesday to deny the rezoning bid from Wolfden LLC.
Environmental groups sue to force ship speed rules aimed at protecting rare whales
They filed a request in federal court to allow a paused lawsuit to go forward, saying endangered North Atlantic right whales need the protection of rules that NOAA proposed in 2022 but has yet to finalize.