Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire
Friday, October 16, 1998
State program trains workers in 2 fields
The state is starting two new apprenticeship programs to train local residents in the telecommunications and maritime industries.Announcing the programs yesterday, Gov. Ben Cayetano said it is the first time in 20 years that the state has approved apprenticeship programs in any field other than the construction industry.
The Department of Labor & Industrial Relations is working with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Locals 1186, 1357 and 1260, the Honolulu Community College and local telecommunications companies to train technicians.
In the other program, the department signed an agreement with the Seafarers International Union guaranteeing jobs for people who complete a union-sponsored seven-month training program at Pine Point, Md.
U.S. inflation remained in check in September
WASHINGTON -- Inflation disappeared in September thanks to falling prices for gasoline, clothing and vegetables.The seasonally adjusted Consumer Price Index was unchanged, following five small increases from April through August, the Labor Department said today. The inflation rate for the first nine months of the year was just 1.4 percent -- even better than the 11-year low of 1.7 percent recorded for all of 1997.
Intel invests $500 million in Micron Technology
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Intel Corp. made a $500 million equity investment in money-losing Micron Technology Inc., assuring a supply of high-speed memory chips needed by personal-computer makers.Intel, the world's largest computer-chip maker, received the right to acquire 6 percent of the No. 2 memory-chip maker's common stock. Boise, Idaho-based Micron is developing the next type of computer memory.
In other news . . .
The average rate on 30-year, fixed-rate U.S. mortgages rose to 6.9 percent this week, from 6.49 percent last week, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. For one-year adjustable-rate mortgages, the average rate fell to 5.35 this week from 5.36 percent; 15-year mortgages rose to 6.58 percent from 6.15 percent last week.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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