Tagged: economy

Folks at the bottom of the pay scale are soon going to get a bit of relief. 

The reason is a 2006 voter-approved law which established a state minimum wage separate from the federal figure. More to the point, that law requires the Industrial Commission to adjust the figure every year. Karen Axsom, director of the commission's labor department, explains.

"It's based on the consumer price index from August to August of each year. And there was a 1.7 percent increase. We round up to 15 cents," Axsom said.

Across the country the housing market appears to be picking up.

In Phoenix home prices are up nearly 14 percent over last year.

And Flagstaff may soon be seeing improvement too.

Jim Snook sells houses for Dallas Real Estate, and he’s the past president of the Northern Arizona Realtor’s Association.

He’s also a numbers guy.

And Snook says the housing market in central Flagstaff is starting to look up again.

For example, houses were selling faster this August than two years ago.

Vicente Fox warned today that unless this country works closer with Mexico -- and recognizes the benefits of immigrant labor -- it will end up playing second fiddle to China.

The economy may still be on the mend. And the jobless rate is still north of 8 percent. But there's been a jump in those trying to scratch it rich.