infrastructure

Obama's SOTU Economic Pitch: This Time, It's Personal

In Tuesday's State of the Union address, President Obama turned that old feminist rallying cry that "the personal is political" on its ear with a long list of proposals that argued that the personal is economic -- and the economic is political.

Natural Gas: The Industry That Could Save America

The American economy is in the throes of the longest, most protracted recovery since the Great Depression. But there is an industry offering a beacon of hope, and it could soon serve as the tipping point that gets America back to work: natural gas.

Bill Clinton's Prescription for the U.S. Economy

Former President Bill Clinton offered up some wide-ranging prescriptions for curing the nation's ailing economy in a speech at the National Retail Federation's annual convention Monday, from investing in new sectors for job growth to cutting taxes on business.

Infrastructure: Do We Need A New New Deal?

President Barack Obama hasn't given up. Having seen Congressional Republicans dash his hopes of passing his American Jobs Act wholesale, Obama is now seeking to get his bill through in what he calls "bite-sized pieces." The legislation has reignited a decades-old debate about jobs creation through infrastructure plans.

Why Trefis Thinks DuPont Stock Is Undervalued

DuPont is a major player in the high-performance materials, chemicals, coatings and agricultural products businesses -- all of which are likely to improve as the global economy recovers. It's also investing heavily in emerging markets such as China, which will give it new engines for growth.

Vancouver Retains Title of World's Most Liveable City

For the fifth straight year, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, bested 139 other cities worldwide in ratings of "relative comfort" to hold onto the right to call itself the World's 'Most Liveable' City, according to new rankings by The Economist Intelligence Unit.

In Construction, a Year of Flat Growth Would Be Welcome

Want to see how the construction industry will do in 2011? Look at how architects did in 2010. By that gauge, last year's thin uptick in building design and engineering services foretells a similar small gain ahead for builders -- after two years of steep declines.

2011's Stealth Trend: Wireless Web Remakes the Rural World

If you want to know how the rural developing world could get cheap, easy wireless Internet access, just follow the money: Remittances to those regions total tens of billions each year, and the money flow isn't very efficient. The profits from micro-telcos taking over the business could prime the pump for an information revolution in the hinterlands.

Americans See China as World's Strongest Economy

Nearly half of Americans in a recent poll believe China has surpassed America as having the strongest economy in the world, and more than half blame outsourcing and the loss of manufacturing jobs for the shift.

Could Japan Hold the Key to Asia's Rising Consumers?

Although Japan's stock market has been weak for the last 20 years, there are signs that a shift may be under way that could transform that nation into the gateway to Asia's emerging-market consumers. For patient investors looking for a contrarian play with huge upside potential, it's time to re-examine Japan.

Google Invests in Offshore Wind Energy Network

Google is taking an investment stake in the construction of a major undersea power network off the mid-Atlantic coast, the company announced Tuesday. The project is designed to deliver enough energy to power 1.9 million households from offshore wind turbines to the Eastern Seaboard.

Amtrak's High-Speed Rail Plan: Can't We Do Better?

Earlier this week, Amtrak released its proposal to build a new high-speed rail line connecting Boston and Washington, D.C. The project will cost over $100 billion and take 25 years to build. While rail enthusiasts may be pleased, you have to wonder: why is it going to take so long? Here's a look at other great infrastructure projects that took much less time to build.

Obama Names Goolsbee as Chief Economic Adviser

Speaking at a White House press conference, President Obama named Austan Goolsbee as his new top economic adviser. He has a "deep appreciation of how the economy affects everyday people," Obama said.

Obama Pushes His New Stimulus Plan

Speaking in Cleveland, President Obama laid out the details of his plan to boost the economic recovery: $50 billion for infrastructure spending; a $100 billion R&D tax credit; and $200 billion to induce U.S. companies to make capital improvements now rather than later.

Will Obama's Spending Plan Boost the Economy?

President Obama will announce billions more in infrastructure spending and tax cuts this week. Supporters say it's just what the sagging economy needs. But critics worry that with mid-term elections just a few weeks away, the main motivation may be political.

Obama's Business-Friendly Proposals Aim to Quiet His Critics

Recognizing that voters are worried about the economy, President Obama is offering an olive branch to his critics with a $50 billion infrastructure plan and a deal to make the R&D tax credit permanent. Conservatives say it's too little too late, but the game is far from over for the Democrats.

Construction Sector Woes Worse Than Expected in July

The U.S. construction industry went from bad to worse in July, and then retroactively worse still. The Commerce Department announced Wednesday that spending in the sector fell a worse-than-expected 1% in July, and revised June's estimate downward from a 0.1% increase to an 0.8% decline.

Construction Giant Foster Wheeler Could Be Building a Rebound

Construction stocks have lately been dormant, if not huge losers. But some analysts are starting to divine that global engineering and heavy construction will come alive in the second half of 2010. And they're changing their tune on Foster Wheeler.

Six Months Later, Haiti Foresees a Long Road to Recovery

How long will it take Haiti to make even a modest recovery from the devastating earthquake that killed 330,000 people six months ago? At least 20 years, according to the Action Plan released by the impoverished island nation's government.

Billionaire in Heated Battle Over Detroit's Ambassador Bridge

Manuel "Matty" Moroun enjoys a monopoly over one of the nation's busiest international trade routes between Detroit and Ontario. But now, as his Ambassador Bridge is starting to show its 81 years, Moroun has found himself frantically defending his claim to the lucrative trade business that takes place across the Detroit River each year.

Under the Radar: Two Stocks Focused on China

Worries are building about the prospects for China's economy, but GameChangerStocks.com's Hilary Kramer says there are some good long-term opportunities for investors. Her stock picks: Two non-Chinese companies invested heavily in China.

Absence of Smart Grid in Budget Talks Isn't Smart

When announcing his $3.8 trillion budget, Obama didn't mention the "smart grid," long key to his infrastructure spending plans. That's a shame, as improving our utility grid could create jobs as well as make us greener, more efficient and more competitive.