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Show Page 8 The Ogden Valley news Volume XXII Issue IX July 1, 2014 Pricier Gas, Fruits & Veggies Drive Daylight Saving Time (DST): Energy Wasatch Front Consumer Price Index Saving Tool or Schedule Interrupter? to discuss pros & cons Higher for Fourth Consecutive Month Governor’s Office hosts forum Representative Ronda Menlove. “Recreation The Zions Bank Wasatch Front Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.7 percent from April to May on a non-seasonally adjusted basis. Over the last twelve months, prices have increased in Utah by 1.9 percent. The national Consumer Price Index, released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, increased 0.3 percent from April to May on a non-seasonally-adjusted basis and has increased 2.1 percent over the past twelve months. Overall, transportation costs increased 1.9 percent in Utah from April to May as Utahns experienced an expected seasonal increase in gasoline prices. On average, Utahns paid $3.59 per gallon of gasoline in May, up from an average of $3.37 in April. While this is a significant increase month-over-month, this would still only equate to a total increase of about $3.30 each time a consumer fills his or her car, assuming that an average gasoline fillup is approximately 15 gallons. Nonetheless, gasoline prices have risen 17 percent over the past five months, or up from $3.06 in December. Gasoline prices are expected to remain generally steady for the remainder of the summer driving season before beginning to fall toward the end of the summer. The average price for a gallon of gasoline in Utah currently stands at $3.57, which is actually down from $3.62 at this time last month, according to AAA. Nationally, prices have remained steady over the last month as well, with the current national average sitting at $3.66, up slightly from $3.65 at this same time last month. The national average has steadily declined to start the summer driving season in each of the past three years. Pending any major geopolitical concerns, significant refinery disruptions, or severe hurricanes, this year is expected to be no different. Food at home prices moved 1.0 percent higher from April to May due to higher produce and dairy prices. Produce prices in particular have moved substantially higher recently, increasing by an average of 3 percent each month in 2014. Consumers who enjoy fresh produce will likely see a continued rise in produce prices due to the ongoing drought in California. According to a new study released by an agribusiness expert from Arizona State University, California could lose up to 20 percent of its crops this year. California grows over 200 different crops and is the primary supplier for a number of high-demand produce items such as avocados, grapes, lemons, melons, peaches, plums, and strawberries. The report concludes that fruits and vegetables that are particularly sensitive to water constraints—like avocados and lettuce—could increase as much as 30 percent in price over the next few months. The report’s publisher notes the substantial price jump will likely be temporary, though, as foreign suppliers will soon be incentivized to ship more crops to the U.S. due to the higher domestic prices. This will in turn increase supply and normalize prices. In other categories, utility prices rose 4.8 percent from April to May, as electricity providers switched consumers from their cheaper, winter rate to their more expensive summer rate. Education and communication prices rose 1.2 percent as college tuition prices moved higher. Medical care prices jumped 0.9 percent behind higher prescription drug costs, and food away from home increased 0.8 percent due to higher prices at certain full service restaurants across the state. Housing prices fell 0.4 percent behind significantly lower hotel prices in May, and recreation prices decreased slightly, falling 0.2 percent, thanks to lower prices for pets and pet products. Clothing prices were unchanged from April to May. Other goods and services increased 0.3 percent. “With regard to rising gasoline prices, there is light at the end of the tunnel,” said Scott Anderson, Zions Bank president and CEO. “We saw an increase in gasoline prices during the month of May, but more current indicators show that the seasonal price increase is likely drawing to a close, and consumers should expect stable, if not slightly lower, gasoline prices during the next few months. This should help ease the burden of rising prices consumers are experiencing in other areas.” Analysis and data collection for the Zions Bank CPI and the Zions Bank Consumer Attitude Index are provided by the Cicero Group. The Cicero Group is a premier market research firm based in Salt Lake City. The Zions Bank Utah Consumer Attitude Index will be released June 24, 2014. In addition to offering a wide range of traditional banking services, Zions Bank is also a leader in small business lending and has ranked as the No. 1 lender of U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) loans in Utah for the past 20 consecutive years. Founded in 1873, Zions Bank has been serving the communities of Utah for 140 years. Additional information is available at <www.zionsbank.com> Every fall and spring the cries of people in support of or against daylight saving time (DST) ring out as millions of clocks shift one hour. At the just completed legislative session it was decided it is time for the voices of Utah residents to be heard. To facilitate this, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) was tasked by the legislature to host a public forum to collect resident input. A public forum will be held at the Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake City on July 10 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. This meeting will provide the public with the opportunity to explore all sides of the DST argument in a place that celebrates time and space. Current bill sponsor Representative Menlove and Senator Osmand, who has a bill file open for possible action during the next legislative session, will be on hand to receive comment. In order to give rural residents the opportunity to comment on the DST issue, surveys will also be taken at the rural summit in Cedar City in August. Those who are unable to attend the public forums can go online to business.utah.gov/time and comment/vote whether or not Utah should continue DST as is or adjust it. Parents, senior citizens, and representatives from agricultural, public education, recreation, and business communities are all encouraged to contribute to the discussion. The following three possibilities for daylight saving time will be explored through the website and the forums: 1. Retain existing “spring forward” and “fall back” time as currently followed in Utah and nationally 2. Align with Arizona on Mountain Standard Time for all 12 months of the year (e.g. fall back) 3. Create a new daylight saving time, e.g. spring forward for all 12 months of the year “Surprisingly, time changes have an economic and educational impact on our state,” said enthusiasts argue that the spring time change brings tourism and recreation dollars into the state coffers and farmers and ranchers have more daylight time to complete their work. However, parents and educators argue that the change has a negative impact on student learning at a critical point in the school year when end-of-level tests are administered. Public Safety officials note an increase in accidents at each change of time. This issue needs to be properly weighed and debated in order to arrive at the best outcome for the most residents.” Daylight saving time was first adopted by Germany during World War I in an effort to save fuel for the war effort by replacing artificial light with real light. In the mid1960s, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Uniform Time Act that standardized beginning and end time for DST in the U.S. The purpose of DST was to provide an extra hour of daylight during normal waking hours, with the intention that this would reduce electricity usage and lead to fewer traffic accidents in the evening. Currently Arizona and Hawaii are the only states that don’t use the DST system. If you have a strong opinion or just a personal preference regarding DST, go to business. utah.gov/time to let state officials know what you think. The comments and votes collected from the forums will be turned over to the legislature, who will then decide how to proceed with the larger question moving forward. “I compliment GOED for taking this discussion seriously and designing a public input process that will allow the residents of Utah to voice their opinions regarding Daylight Saving Time,” said Menlove. “By creating opportunities to attend the forum or comment on the website, GOED is giving citizens an opportunity to be heard.” The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) charter is based on Governor Gary Herbert’s commitment to economic development statewide. Utah’s economic development vision is that Utah will lead the nation as the best performing economy and be recognized as a premier global business destination. The Ogden Valley News is looking for Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon historical biographies, stories, and photos to use in its publication. If you have material you would like to share, please mail, email, or call Shanna at 801-745-2688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879 |