Aug. 3--One economic indicator shows that Owensboro's economy is still strong.

Jim Tony Fulkerson, the city's finance director, said the city's occupational tax took in $9.57 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30.

That's up 5.8 percent from the $9.04 million collected last year.

And it means worker earnings have risen that much.

Fulkerson's records show that March was the strongest month, with receipts up 4.4 percent.

June was the weakest, with 2.89 percent growth.

-- On the other hand, the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training says the Owensboro metropolitan area -- Daviess, Hancock and McLean counties -- had 200 fewer jobs in May than it had a year ago.

Educational and health services added 200 jobs, and trade, transportation and utilities and government each added 100 jobs -- a total of 400.

But mining and manufacturing each lost 200, while leisure and hospitality and other services each lost 100 jobs -- 600 total jobs.

-- Gas prices dropped to the $3.67-$3.69 range here last week.

That's the lowest level since May.

-- Owensboro Medical Health System has bought more property on Pleasant Valley Road near the site of its planned new hospital.

Real estate records show the hospital paid $550,000 for Onyx Energy America's property at 1041 Pleasant Valley Road.

-- Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, which owns Texas Gas Transmission, reported net income of $152.8 million for the first half of 2008 -- up 32 percent from a year ago.

-- Towne Square Mall's new digital sign on Frederica Street is scheduled to arrive Friday.

The mall, by the way, is redesigning its center court. The mall's owners are making what's described as a "sizable investment."

Expect work to be completed in October.

-- Buffalo Wild Wings is also remodeling.

The company recently picked up a building permit for $239,553 worth of work at its Towne Square North location.

-- The Kentucky Bankers Association says there have only been 44 bank failures in the state since 1934 -- 22 of them before 1940 and none since 1991.

-- Are you cutting back on back-to-school purchases?

The annual Deloitte Back-to-School survey says that 71 percent of families say they're cutting back this year.

And 48 percent said they plan to spend more than $100 less.

Clothes will take a big hit.

The survey found that 83 percent will spend less on clothes, 48 percent less on shoes and 30 percent less on backpacks.

-- The U.S. Census Bureau says the average person newly hired in Daviess County during the second quarter of 2007 earned $1,941 a month.

The average monthly pay for all Daviess County workers was $2,882, the census bureau said.

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