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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2004)
■k MSC Variety Show -k Now accepting applications for all kinds of acts. Compete for local fame and Applications in Town Hall cube in the Student Program Office or online at townhall.tamu.edu a prize money fortune! Auditions Feb. 17th, 18th, and 19th. I want ter suck your talent, and blood, andi also love chocolate. Application deadline Feb. 12th at 5pm. 10 NATION Friday, February 6, 2004 THE BATTALION Productivity gain raises hope that companies will hire more workers By Jeannine Aversa THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Productivity Camp Day Tuesday, February 10 9:30 am — 3:30 pm MSC Flag Room and Hallway 50 Camps from California to New York and throughout Texas interviewing for summer counselors & staff Wanted: Counselors; wranglers; instructors in arts and crafts, sports, lifesaving/water safety, small craft; individuals with nature and outdoor education skills, people interested in working with youth in a variety of outdoor settings throughout Texas and the nation. All Majors Welcome Sponsored by the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences, the Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences Club, and the TAMU Career Center WASHINGTON — The pro ductivity of America’s workers grew modestly in the final three months of 2003, raising hopes that companies will step up hir ing to meet demand rather than relying solely on increased efficiency. The Labor Department report ed Thursday that productivity — the amount an employee pro duces for every hour on the job — grew at a 2.7 percent annual rate from October through December. Although that was a slowdown from the 9.5 percent rate for the three previous months, it nevertheless was a respectable pace that bodes well for the economy’s recovery, ana lysts said. “You can squeeze only so much juice out of an orange. There is no question that busi nesses — seeing demand grow — are hiring more people in response to slowing productivity Here is a look at non-farm business productivity, percent change from previous quarter. Seasonally adjusted 10 2.7% 1 I II III IV 2002 I II III IV 2003 SOURCE: U S. Bureau of Labor Statistics gains,” said Wells Fargo’s chief economist Sung Won Sohn. “But how many people will be hired going forward — that is really a debatable question.” For all of 2003, productivity grew by 4.2 percent, following a 4.9 percent increase in 2002. Productivity gains are impof- tant to the economy’s long term vitality. They allow k economy to grow faster withou setting off inflation. Companies can pay workers more without raising prices, which would eat up those wage gains, Productivity can bolster a com pany’s profitability. As profits improve, companies may be more willing to be capital investment and hiring, Economists are predictii the nation’s payrolls grew around 180,000 jobs January, compared with a gain of 1,000 jobs $ December. The governmei was releasing the employrni report for January on Friday. Analysts are hopeful that com-! panies — after having squee; so much efficiencies out of exist ing workers last year - will expand their ranks of workers*) the months ahead to meet cus tomers’ demand. n There were some encoun ing signs to this end Thursday’s report. Chinese government: 37 deadin| stampede at holiday gathering BEIJING (AP) —At least 37 people were killed and 15 others injured Thursday when a crowd stampeded during a holiday gathering outside the Chinese capital on the final day of the country’s Lunar New Year cele brations, the government said. Officials, including President Hu Jintao, expressed “deep con cern” and ordered an investiga tion. The mayor of Beijing was on at scene supervising. “This is a very serious inci dent,” said Wu Kun, a spokesman for the Beijing city government. “There could even be more people dead. It’s still a very confusing scene up there.” The official Xinhua News Agency reported the accident happened in Miyun County, an extreme northern suburb of Beijing. Wu said it occurred at 7:45 p.m. in a popular gathering spot called Mihong Park near the town of Miyun when some one tripped in a crowded area, causing a chain reaction. “One person fell down on a grate in the park and caused MONGOLIA TZ N. KOREX ... Miyun 0 400 mi Beijing^ “ CHINA :Mil<e Ri At least 37 dead and 15 injured in holiday celebration stampede 'JAPAN Hong Kong SOURCE: Associated Press many people to fall down.IheR was a stampede,” Wu said. T was a lot of people. I'm notsiw how many. X O €? You’re planning to propose on the most romantic day of the year-Valentine’s Day. Be sure you get it right. You only get one chance. 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