In brief: Construction permits value more than doubled in March
The value of permits for future construction in Spokane County more than doubled in March but was flat for the first three months of the year, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, an industry publication.
Activity in Kootenai County increased in March and during the quarter.
Although nonresidential construction for the quarter fell 48 percent to $19.1 million in Spokane, that decline was more than offset by an 81 percent jump in residential construction, to $39.8 million.
The 2010 total was $58.9 million, compared with $58.7 million for the first quarter of 2009.
In March, nonresidential construction rose 59 percent to $12.2 million. Residential permits almost tripled, to $22.4 million.
Total construction permits for the month were worth $34.6 million.
In Kootenai County, permit value climbed 61 percent in March, to $20 million. Nonresidential permits increased 89 percent to $4 million, residential permits 55 percent to $16.1 million.
Permits for the first quarter grew 59 percent to $42.5 million, with nonresidential work more than tripling to $13.3 million, and residential 29 percent to $29.2 million.
Bert Caldwell
Hertz to buy Dollar Thrifty
CHICAGO – Hertz Global Holdings Inc. said Monday it has agreed to buy rival Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group for about $1.17 billion in cash and stock as it tries to expand its vacationer business.
The deal will give Hertz, already the world’s largest car rental company, a third more locations around the globe, boosting its total to 9,800. More importantly, it will give Hertz’s leisure segment a much-needed boost when it assumes control of the Dollar and Thrifty brands.
The move would leave three major U.S. car rental companies, each with two or more large brands. Hertz also owns the Advantage rental car company and competes against the smaller Avis Budget Group, which has 6,900 Avis and Budget locations; and Enterprise Holdings Inc., which has 7,600 Enterprise, Alamo and National sites.
Associated Press
Newspaper circulations fall
NEW YORK – Circulation continues to drop severely at U.S. newspapers, though the rate of decline slowed from the previous six-month reporting period.
Figures released Monday by the Audit Bureau of Circulations show average weekday circulation fell 8.7 percent in the six months that ended March 31, compared with the same period a year earlier. Sunday circulation fell 6.5 percent.
That’s a slight improvement from April through September of last year, when average weekday circulation dropped 10.6 percent from a year earlier and Sunday circulation fell 7.5 percent.
Associated Press