Business in brief: Airports issue January reports

January’s rough weather likely curtailed traffic at Felts Field, but more passengers took flights out of Spokane International Airport, according to a report released Friday.

Felts Field, the civilian aviation hub for Spokane County, reported 2,883 operations for the month, down 7 percent from the same month last year. Freight operations also dropped, to 4.2 tons, a decrease of 12.5 percent.

The Spokane International Airport passenger count increased 6 percent over January 2006, with 132,319 boarding outbound flights. Total passengers rose 5.4 percent to 260,425.

Air cargo climbed 8.7 percent, to 4,653 tons.

Silver prices top $20 per ounce

Silver prices pushed above $20 per ounce Monday, fulfilling analysts’ predictions that jittery investors would continue to seek out precious metals as a storehouse of value in 2008.

Silver was trading at $20.073 per ounce for the metal, which averaged prices of $21 to $22 per ounce in 1980, before slumping to record lows.

Higher silver prices gave a boost to two local mining stocks. Coeur d’Alene Mines Corp. closed at $5.16 per share Monday, up 34 cents in trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Hecla Mining Co. closed at $11.65 per share, up 15 cents.

Washington, D.C.

Center praises state government

Washington, Utah and Virginia have the most effective state governments in the country, according to a scorecard released Monday by the Pew Center on the States.

The center ranked the states based on how well they manage their budgets, staffs, infrastructure and information.

The states with the highest scores have made accountability and innovation a priority, the report said.

Washington, for example, holds public meetings led by the governor to monitor how its programs are working, while Utah has a sophisticated financial tracking system that provides up-to-the-minute data. Virginia offers its employees incentives for meeting goals and improving service.

Missoula

Building slump boosts sawdust

The price of sawdust has soared since 2006, up from about $25 a ton to more than $100 in some markets. Blame the housing slump: Fewer new homes mean fewer trees cut for use in construction, which leads to less sawdust and other wood waste, driving up the price.

Sawdust may seem like a lowly commodity, but it is widely used in today’s economy. Farms use sawdust and wood shavings as cozy and clean bedding for horses and chickens. Particle-board makers devour it by the boxcar to fashion a cheap building material. Auto-parts manufacturers blend a finely pulverized sawdust called “wood flour” with plastic polymers to make a lightweight material to cover steering wheels and dashboards.

– From staff and wire reportsl