Happy Friday! Welcome to KPCC's business blog, The Breakdown. Every weekday, our staff compiles a list of interesting business news in the region.
- The state's unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent in April, the lowest in about six years (Los Angeles Times).
- April was also a busy month at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, with cargo up roughly 10 percent (Press-Telegram).
- Pratt & Whitney AeroPower says it will close its San Diego plant (U-T San Diego). Reporter Jonathan Horn says 530 employees will be affected.
- Grocery chain Stater Brothers says it is open to possible expansion (The Press Enterprise).
- Long Beach Airport Association elects new board of 14 members from the aviation business community (Press-Telegram). Reporter Karen Robes Meeks says the board aims "to foster diversity in business and bring awareness of the aviation sector’s contribution to the regional economy."
- Oakley hired ad agency Eleven to help it come up with a catchy slogan (Ad Age). Any suggestions?
Today is my last day at KPCC. Next month, I will become a tech reporter at the San Francisco Chronicle. If you have SoCal business news, please contact my colleagues Brian Watt (@radiobwatt) and Ben Bergman (@thebenbergman) and if you have Bay Area tech news, tweet me @thewendylee!
