Business in brief: SRA to conduct survey for VA

Strategic Research Associates of Spokane will launch a national survey this month to help the Veterans Administration find out more about former service members who may have Parkinson’s disease, marketing manager John Ryan said Monday.

SRA won a $230,000 contract for the survey. SRA is awaiting VA data and upgrading its encryption software before the nationwide survey gets under way, Ryan said.

He said the 10-month survey will be done by mail. SRA will coordinate distribution and collection of the forms, leaving analysis to the VA, he said. SRA has hired five part-time workers to help with the study, Ryan said.

Bert Caldwell

Potatoes fetch higher prices

BOISE – Idaho potato crop acreage is down this year, and industry leaders say that has led to higher revenues.

Idaho Potato Commission President Frank Muir says revenues are up for the fifth year in a row.

Jerry Wright, president of the United Potato Growers of Idaho, credits that to growers who are monitoring their planting so they don’t glut the market.

The United Potato Growers of Idaho reports that prices so far this year have been around $12 per hundredweight of potatoes. That compares to $7.10 per hundredweight in 2008 and $6.15 per hundredweight in 2007, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Associated Press

Services sector shrinks less

NEW YORK – The U.S. services economy – from retailers and restaurants to real estate brokers – contracted less than expected in June in its best showing since before the financial crisis struck last fall, according to a private trade group’s gauge.

The Institute for Supply Management on Monday said that its services index rose to 47 in June from 44 in May. Economists polled by Thomson Reuters had expected a June reading of 45.5.

Any reading below 50 indicates the services sector is shrinking.

Associated Press

Crude oil prices drop again

NEW YORK – Oil prices tumbled to a five-week low Monday on growing evidence of an extended recession that could sap energy demand for some time.

Benchmark crude for August delivery fell $2.68 to settle at $64.05 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

It was the fourth straight day of declines on Nymex and since hitting a midday high for the year last Tuesday. Crude prices have fallen nearly 13 percent since then.

Natural gas prices plunged as well.

Associated Press