Ideas

Real gross domestic product, the output of goods and services produced by labor and property in the United States, increased at an annual rate of 4.0 percent in the second quarter, as the economic recovery gained momentum, according to the advance estimate released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis today.

The waiter at San Antonio's Beat Street Coffee Co. Bistro held the large vintage door for a long time while my mother entered with her walker. The restaurant's hipster ambiance was just what she needed as a meal break from living with 24 other people aged 80-103 at Chandler Estate Assisted Living. Needless to say, neither Mom nor I looked like the other diners. But this waiter treated us throughout the evening as if we were his target market.

Mount Mary University, located in Milwaukee, has named Cheryl Bailey, Ph.D., dean of its School of Natural and Health Sciences, the institution announced today.

U.S. consumer confidence jumped to its highest level in almost seven years in July, according to the Conference Board.

Milwaukee-based Sensient Technologies Corp. reported second quarter net earnings of $29.1 million, or 59 cents per share, down from $32.3 million, or 65 cents per share, in the second quarter of 2013.

The Marcus Corp. reported fiscal fourth quarter net earnings of $4.3 million, or 16 cents per share, up from $3.5 million, or 13 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Milwaukee-based A.O. Smith Corp.reported second quarter net earnings of $57.3 million, or 63 cents per share, up from $42.1 million, or 45 cents per share, in the second quarter of 2013.

Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc. reported second quarter net income of $354.2 million, or $1.62 per share, up from $271.7 million, or $1.21 per share, in the second quarter of 2013.

MGIC Investment Corp. announced that Curt Culver will retire as chief executive officer, effective March 1.

Storage Systems Midwest Inc., a Waukesha-based provider of materials storage solutions for commercial and industrial companies throughout the United States, has acquired Sussex-based Babush Material Handling Systems Inc.