Digital Commons Network^™

West Michigan Stock Returns, Gregg Dimkoff

Seidman Business Review

On average, investors in stocks of West Michigan-based companies lost money in 2007. Three out of four companies saw their stock prices decline. Interestingly, prices of only three of the fourteen stocks comprising the Index rose, while the others fell, often substantially. How does the Index rise by almost 7% when three-quarters of the component stocks fall, and nearly half of them fell more than 30%? It’s because the Index is weighted by the number of shares outstanding of each company. Perrigo, Gentex, and Spartan Stores, the three companies rising during 2007, account for nearly 42% of all outstanding shares …

West Michigan-Grand Rapids Commercial Real Estate Review And Forecast, Gary Albrecht

Seidman Business Review

Retail: The expansion of existing users within the marketplace will contribute the most to the growth of the West Michigan retail market.

Office: Despite uncertainty created by the state budget and taxation changes, continued modest growth is expected in 2008.

Investment: Overall demand is expected to remain strong while tightening financial markets will have a tempering effect on prices.

Industrial: A diverse, creative, and flexible supply base remains a significant factor in the overall health of the industrial market.

Hispanic-Owned Businesses In West Michigan, Carol M. Sanchez, Paul Isely

Seidman Business Review

Many vibrant neighborhoods in West Michigan have large, growing Hispanic populations. In fact, Hispanics are one of the fastest growing segments of West Michigan’s population, due to high immigration and birth rates. According to the U.S. Census, over 94,000 Hispanics lived in Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, and Allegan Counties in 2006 — a little more than 7% of the total population — and that population has doubled since 1994. But the population of Hispanic individuals is not all that is growing. The number and variety of Hispanic-owned or Hispanic-focused businesses in Kent County is also increasing, evidenced by block after block …

Weakness In Grand Rapids Housing Prices, Paul N. Isely, Elvira Yaparova

Seidman Business Review

The weak housing market has been one of the most important business stories of 2007. A weak housing market decreases the value of a house. As a result, the wealth of the individual consumer drops, decreasing their financial security. There are many ways to measure the weakness in the housing market such as the number of house sales, foreclosure rates, and median house prices. However, for the homeowner the most important value should be the quality adjusted price index for housing in their area. A price index gives an idea of how prices are changing for houses with the same …

Meth In Allegan County -- Spreading To West Michigan?, Jitendra M. Mishra

Seidman Business Review

According to the Office of National Drug Policy, White House, about 1.3 million people used meth in the year 2002. Moreover, in 2001, 607,000 people used methamphetamine. The University of Arkansas reports that businesses in Benton County were losing an estimated $21 million annually because of meth, mainly due to absenteeism and lost productivity. Methamphetamine is a profoundly addictive drug that seriously affects health, families, businesses, social services, and the environment. Why is meth use on the increase?

Link Wellness Programs To Health Benefit Plan Design For Maximum Impact, Jeff S. Rubleski

Seidman Business Review

Employers throughout West Michigan continue to feel the crushing impact of rising healthcare costs. Nationally, year-over-year increases in health insurance premium costs have exceeded the overall inflation rate since 2000 by about a four-to-one margin. Figure 1-1 highlights the magnitude of health insurance premium increases relative to increases in workers’ earnings and increases in overall inflation from 2000 through 2007. And when we look at Michigan residents’ health, there are some alarming trends that, left unchecked, could further exacerbate our state’s economic woes. In a recently released study by the United Health Foundation and Partnership for Prevention, Michigan ranked as …

Grand Rapids Economic Forecast 2008, Hari Singh, Nancy Boese

Seidman Business Review

The survey for the greater Grand Rapids economy (Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, and Allegan Counties) was conducted in November 2007.

• Business confidence has declined significantly for 2008

• Employment is expected to be relatively flat in 2008

• Overall sales are expected to grow at a lower rate of 1.5% for 2008

• Exports continue to be a bright spot; expected growth is 5% during 2008

• The decline in regional confidence and sales reflect the ongoing restructuring and an expected slowdown of the national economy