September 2010

Sep 17, 2010

Who benefits from e-commerce?

What’s called e-commerce -- or online shopping -- has grown by leaps and bounds. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden talks about the kind of businesses that benefit the most from e-commerce. 

Sep 17, 2010

CALS tour brings Central America to plant pathology students

Bridget Lassiter, a Ph.D. student in crop science, describes her experience traveling to Costa Rica as part of a class on tropical agriculture and plant pathology. 

Sep 17, 2010

YOU DECIDE: When will bank lending bounce back?

Businesses need loans to expand, and new businesses need loans to start. But banks aren't lending. Mike Walden discusses why banks aren't lending. 

Sep 16, 2010

Metro income growth

Recently the U.S. Commerce Department released numbers for income growth between 2007 and 2009 in metropolitan areas. Some of the results were surprising, says N.C. State University economist Mike Walden. 

Sep 16, 2010

CALS Tailgate 2010 – still the biggest and best!

More than 1,100 CALS alumni and friends celebrated the tradition on Sept. 4, as the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences held its 19th annual football tailgate event at Dorton Arena on the state fairgrounds. 

Sep 15, 2010

School, local officials celebrate partnership to clean up impaired creek

Hoping to inspire changes that result in less rain down the drain, North Carolina State University, the town of Cary and the Black Creek Watershed Association recently dedicated new rain gardens at West Cary Middle School. 

Sep 15, 2010

Spending by the rich

Legend has it that the writer F. Scott Fitzgerald said the rich are different: They have more money. While the very rich are a relatively small percentage of the economy, they are often the focus of economic policy. Extension economist Mike Walden explains why. 

Sep 14, 2010

Tough to start

Our economy relies on entrepreneurs, or people starting new businesses, to propel our economy forward. N.C. Cooperative Extension economist Mike Walden explains what we know about these frontier investors. 

Sep 13, 2010

Weak retail sales

The latest national numbers for retail sales weren’t encouraging. After adjusting for typical seasonal effects and inflation, retail sales essentially showed no improvement. Why is this important and what does it say about the economy? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden weighs in. 

Sep 10, 2010

‘Extension Gardener’ focuses on landscape grasses

Learn about "Gorgeous Grasses for Garden Texture," including pink muhly grass, in the fall regional editions of Extension Gardener. This season's Showstopper Plant, purple muhly is an airy grass that blooms in fall with masses of vibrant-pink flower panicles.