Financial Report

Grocery prices remain stable

The amount Alabama consumers spent buying groceries in October remained virtually unchanged compared to the previous month, based on an Alabama Farmers Federation survey.

Lower prices for tomatoes and potatoes helped offset higher costs for milk and butter in October, based on the survey that looks at average costs of 20 basic food items.

Alabama shoppers paid just 2 cents more this month for the surveyed items, which had a total average cost of $50.82.

Seasonal savings on red and sweet potatoes were expected, with red spuds falling 8 cents to 78 cents a pound and sweet potatoes dropping 9 cents to 87 cents a pound.

Tomatoes were down 8 cents to $1.47 a pound.

News for shoppers wasn't quite as good among dairy products. This month, average prices for dairy products at Alabama supermarkets were up across the board. A half-gallon of milk was up 5 cents to $2.78; ice cream was up 9 cents to $3.78 a half-gallon; and butter jumped 18 cents to $3.52 a pound.

Meat prices remained in good shape. The average price of bacon fell 22 cents to $3.77 a pound. Ground beef was down a nickel to $2.22 a pound, and chuck roasts fell 4 cents to $3.34 a pound.

T-bone steaks showed the biggest gain at $8.26 a pound, up 12 cents. Poultry prices showed modest increases.

Loss of job, health coverage increases

A new report from Families USA, the national organization for health care consumers, estimates that 82,900 adults in Alabama have lost health coverage this year as a result of increases in the number of unemployed workers.

Most Americans - 61.9 percent of those younger than 65 - get their health coverage through their own job or that of a family member.

Job loss, therefore, usually means loss of health coverage because both COBRA and individual coverage costs are usually prohibitive.

Alabama's unemployment rate increased to 10.7 percent in September, according to the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations.

The report showed that 223,165 state residents were unemployed during the month.

FLORENCE

Lambert Moving honored with award

Lambert Moving and Storage in Florence has received a national award by Cartus Global Network, which provides employee relocation and work force development solutions.

Lambert won the Commitment to Excellence Platinum Award, recognizing exceptional service.

"Lambert Moving and Storage routinely goes the extra mile for our customers while performing at the highest levels of achievement.

"This award acknowledges the unparalleled quality and professionalism that we value," said Traci Morris, executive vice president at Cartus.

TRINITY

Business workshop planned Tuesday

Mainstream Development Corp. is conducting a small business development workshop Tuesday.

The "Business Survival Strategies During This Economic Recession" workshop will begin at 6 p.m. at Sonny's Barbecue, 19855 Alabama 72, Trinity. Call 355-5590 for directions.

The workshop will be conducted by small business consultant Maurice Smith, of Tupelo, Miss. Interested business owners and entrepreneurs are urged to attend.

The workshop is free and supported by a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant.

Mainstream Development Corp. is a nonprofit business development corporation serving northwest Alabama.