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January 7, 2013 Edition

Williamson reflects on Homer exhibit sponsorship

James McCarthy

"Weatherbeaten: Winslow Homer and Maine," which closed on Dec. 30, broke December attendance records and helped the Portland Museum of Art boost its membership by 20% to nearly 9,000.

  • Focus on Augusta/Waterville
    Focus on Augusta/Waterville

    Boghossian tees up Lockwood Mills development

    Douglas Rooks

    When Paul Boghossian launched the partnership that restored the historic Hathaway Mill in Waterville five years ago, he had no idea he'd just now start renovations to the other two buildings in the mammoth Lockwood Mills complex.

  • How To's
    How To's

    How to know if you need help with QuickBooks

    Alison Hinson

    Do you use QuickBooks as your accounting software? If so, you're in good company. QuickBooks is the world's most popular small business accounting program and is used by millions of people.

  • Maine ports make headlines in 2012

    Matt Dodge

    Maine's maritime ports made headlines as 2012 came to a close, with talk of re-establishing ferry service to Canada, a narrowly averted strike and a new budgetary highwater mark for one of Maine's busiest ports. Here's the ebb and flow:

  • 5 economists forecast the year ahead

    Every year, Mainebiz asks five prominent Maine economists to give us their predictions for the upcoming year.

  • Focus on Augusta/Waterville
    Focus on Augusta/Waterville

    2 firms battle over Kennebec Valley natural gas market

    Matt Dodge

    Despite its modest market demographics, the Kennebec Valley has become the site of a showdown between two natural gas providers vying to supply service to the area.

Today's Poll

Is it time for the Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates?
Poll Description

Over the course of months, banks and other businesses have looked for the Federal Reserve Board to cut interest rates, but the waiting game continues.

Basing its decision on new economic reports, the Fed on May 1 said it doesn’t plan to cut rates until it has “greater confidence” that inflation is slowing toward the central bank's 2% target. Three rate reductions had been projected for 2024, likely starting in June.

But for now, it appears the key borrowing rate in the U.S. will stay at a two-decade high of roughly 5.3%.

Keeping the rate so high for so long may tame inflation, but can also discourage new investment and business growth.

“The Fed is really stressing the banking industry,” said Andrew Silsby, president and CEO of Augusta-based Kennebec Savings Bank, in a Mainebiz story last month. “The economic environment is really quite difficult, but I haven’t quite figured out whether we’re through the storm or in the eye of the storm.”

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