BizTimes Milwaukee

Imagine the economy as if it were a canoe drifting along a stream. The average speed of the stream tends to determine the speed of the canoe. The canoe's speed can be increased by active paddling by those on the canoe or it can be stalled by paddling in the wrong direction or slowed by dragging anchors from the stern.

Economic pressures, looming cap-and-trade legislation, and other economic drivers are forcing companies of all sizes toward efficiencies to improve the bottom line, according to a new study.

The hospitality and convention business is poised to make a comeback in 2010. Convention business on the books for 2010 is on pace to finish 57,000 room nights ahead of 2009.

As the dust settles on the financial crisis, there is the inevitable move to create regulations to prevent a similar crisis in the future. One discussion we view as very positive is the effort to increase transparency.

Good riddance to 2009, a bruising year for the Wisconsin and national economies. Welcome to 2010, which can hardly be more punishing – and which may even bring renewed vigor to the innovation economy.

The recession will have significant impact on the insurance industry around the globe over the next several years, resulting in mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, changing compensation and more, according to a recent report by the international financial services firm New York-based PricewaterhouseCoopers International Ltd.

As of the early part of 2009, there were 4 billion mobile devices in the world for every 1 billion computers.

The U.S. economy has lost 7.3 million jobs since the Great Recession began two years ago.

The nation's economy gained 4,000 jobs in November, the first monthly job increase since the end of 2007, but lost another 85,000 jobs in December, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

Many professionals in the commercial and residential real estate industries were happy to see 2009 come to an end.

The largely stagnant mergers and acquisitions market is showing signs of life, and financial professionals from metro Milwaukee believe it will continue to improve throughout 2010.