Consumer prices in Snohomish County rose 1.9 percent over the past two months, mostly due to rising gasoline costs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the consumer price index for the metropolitan area that includes the county rose to $201.30 between February and April. That means a basket of goods that cost $100 in 1982-84 would have cost that amount in April. Gas prices rose 26.3 percent during the two-month period, and clothing costs were up 8.6 percent. Food and beverage costs rose 1.7 percent. Changes in other categories were minimal.
Northwest biotech gets survival loan
Northwest Biotherapeutics Inc. of Bothell has received another $450,000 loan from Toucan Capital, enough to keep the small company running for another month. According to financial filings, the developer of potential cancer treatments also is negotiating to extend obligations due in June. Toucan, a Maryland-based venture capital firm, has provided $5.25 million to Northwest Biotherapeutics since last year.
New head gear from Microvision
Microvision Inc. of Bothell said Thursday it will unveil a new full-color, helmet-mounted display system at next week’s Society for Information Display International Symposium. The new display system is the culmination of a $3.85 million development contract with the U.S. military.
B/E Aerospace awarded787 work
B/E Aerospace will provide passenger oxygen systems to the Boeing Co. for its 787. The Florida-based parent company of Marysville’s Flight Structures Inc. said the 787 will be the first plane equipped with its new Pulse Oxygen system, which it says is more efficient than traditional passenger systems and weighs less. The system also has lower maintenance costs, B/E said. Flight Structures won’t be directly involved in the project. The system is built by B/E at a factory in North Carolina.
United Air talks may avert strike
The union representing 20,000 ramp workers and customer-service agents at United Airlines reported “significant progress” Wednesday in negotiations aimed at averting a contract deadlock and threatened strike. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers gave the upbeat report as it continued marathon talks with United to work out a deal before this afternoon, when a bankruptcy court trial is due to resume on United’s proposal to impose lower pay and benefits.
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