November 27, 2018
HB Business News: Celebrating Duke's 20th for Small Business Saturday
The HB Business News runs every Tuesday in the Chamber Preview and is posted to the Chamber's Facebook and Twitter pages. All videos are produced by Matt Liffreing, Marketworks Video.

Chamber Events & Programs
WHO: Kellee Fritzal
Deputy Directory of Business Development - City of HB
WHEN: Wednesday, 11/28
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
WHERE: Curry & Kabab Bistro
WHO: Various local businesses showcasing their organization and their products at a table top expo
WHEN: Tuesday, 12/4
5 - 8 p.m.
WHERE: 5th & PCH
Wednesday, 12/5
12 - 1 p.m.
A major scientific report issued by 13 federal agencies presents the starkest warnings to date of the consequences of climate change for the United States. The report predicts that if significant steps are not taken to rein in global warming, the damage will knock as much as 10 percent off the size of the American economy by century’s end. The findings are at odds with President Trump’s agenda of environmental deregulation, which is asserted to spur economic growth. Source / 1,656-page assessment: here / New York Times

Existing-home sales increased in October after six straight months of decreases, according to the National Association of Realtors. Three of four major U.S. regions saw gains in sales activity last month. Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, increased 1.4 percent from September to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.22 million in October. Sales are now down 5.1 percent from a year ago (5.5 million in October 2017). Source: NAR  

According to the BLS employment report, retailers hired seasonal workers in October at the lowest pace since the great recession. Typically, retail companies start hiring for the holiday season in October, and really increase hiring in November. Analysts expect the trend to be down with more and more internet holiday shopping. Last year there was a surge in seasonal hiring in November, and maybe that will happen again this year. No one knows! However, there is a decent correlation between October seasonal retail hiring and holiday retail sales ( here ). Source: Calculated Risk Blog

Lyft will launch a rewards program in which riders earn points, based on spending, that can be used for such perks as upgrades or discounted rides. The program will be offered to select riders in various cities at first and then expand to more riders in 2019. The company already has launched a rewards program for riders with Lyft Business profiles earlier this year. Source: The Verge

U.S. businesses continued to hire in October, adding 250,000 jobs - and wages rose by the largest year-over-year amount in nearly a decade. The unemployment rate stayed at a five-decade low of 3.7 percent. With the supply of unemployed dwindling, companies appear to be finally putting up generous enough pay raises to attract and retain employees. Average hourly wages rose 3.1 percent in October from a year earlier, the fastest annual gain since 2009. Source: Pilot Online
Member Events
Tuesday, 11/27
5 - 9 p.m.
Tuesday, 11/27
8 - 11:55 p.m.
Wednesday, 11/28
8 - 9 a.m.
Wednesday, 11/28
5:30 - 8 p.m.
Wednesday, 11/28
8 - 11:55 p.m.
Thursday, 11/29
8 - 11:55 p.m.
Saturday, 12/8
9 - 11 a.m.
Saturday, 12/8
12 - 3 p.m.
Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce | (714) 536-8888 | (714) 960-7654