The United Steelworkers union (USW) released the following statement today from USW International President Tom Conway in honor of the Labor Day holiday.

"This Labor Day, as we pause to honor workers and celebrate the dignity of work, we remember how far we have come and rededicate ourselves to the fight for fairness for working people.

"American workers are hungry for unions, and we must be there for them. Workers are organizing in huge numbers, but they still face greedy employers and politicians who fight them every step of the way.

"That's why we owe it to them to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act and other worker protections, so every worker who wants to be a union member can do so without intimidation and interference.

"That's also why the USW is proud to welcome President Joe Biden to Pittsburgh today to celebrate alongside the working people who built – and continue to build – this country.

"We partnered with this administration and with this Congress to make historic progress for workers: including the new infrastructure law that is rebuilding our nation and growing our economy; the Butch-Lewis Act, which saved the pensions of more than a million workers and retirees; and the Inflation Reduction Act, which will lower costs and boost American manufacturing. As a result of these efforts, we've seen record job growth, low unemployment, and rising wages across our industries.

"But our fight is far from over. As we look to the future, we pledge to continue the fight for working people, and to push our leaders to join us in that fight, on this Labor Day and every day."

The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.

Profit Margins on Typical Home Sales Hit Another Record, Rising to 56 Percent. ATTOM, a leading curator of real estate data nationwide for land and property data, today released its second-quarter 2022 U.S. Home Sales Report, which shows that profit margins on median-priced single-family home and condo sales across the United States hit another new record of 55.5 percent following the largest quarterly gain in a decade.

On the heels of a lackluster first quarter of 2022 that suggested possible weakness in the nation's long-running housing market boom, the latest typical profit margin was up from 48.3 percent in the first quarter of 2022 and 42.9 percent in the second quarter of 2021. It was more than 20 points above the 32 percent figure from the second quarter of 2020.

"Home sellers in the second quarter continued to benefit from the rapid growth in home price appreciation the country has experienced over the past few years," said Rick Sharga, executive vice president of market intelligence at ATTOM. "While price growth may slow down as higher mortgage rates dampen demand from prospective homebuyers, home sellers should continue to profit from the record $27 trillion in homeowner equity in today's market.

"While profit margins routinely go up during the Spring home-buying season, the latest spike of more than seven percentage points marked the largest quarterly gain since at least 2008. The year-over-year gain of 13 points in the typical return on investment was one of the largest in the past decade.

Gross profits also hit new highs in the second quarter of 2002, after dipping slightly in the early months of the year. The typical single-family home and condo sale across the country generated a gross second-quarter profit of $123,869, up 19 percent from $103,750 in the first quarter of 2022 and up 38 percent from $90,000 a year earlier.

The second-quarter records for gross profits and profit margins came as the national median home price hit a new high of $346,000 in the second quarter of 2022 – the 10th straight quarterly increase. The latest median value was up 8.8 percent from the first quarter of 2022 and 15.3 percent from the second quarter of 2021.

The second quarter profit figures showed how strong the nation's housing market prices remained despite rising economic uncertainty and home-mortgage rates that have surged this year. Average mortgage rates have nearly doubled from a year ago, reaching almost 6 percent for a 30-year fixed rate loan, making affordability a challenge for many potential homebuyers. These higher rates, coupled with rising home prices, the highest U.S. inflation rates in 40 years, and soaring food and fuel prices are all headwinds threatening to slow down what has been a white-hot housing market over the past few years. Still, home prices and seller profits surged anew in the second quarter, after a first quarter that saw a rare dip in investment returns.

Typical profit margins – the percent change between median purchase and resale prices - increased from the first quarter of 2022 to the second quarter of 2022 in 162 (89 percent) of the 183 metro areas around the U.S. with sufficient data to analyze. They were up annually in 174 of those metros (95 percent). Metro areas were included if they had at least 1,000 single-family home and condo sales in the second quarter of 2022 and a population of at least 200,000.

The biggest annual increases in profit margins came in the metro areas of Fort Myers, FL (margin up from 47.1 percent in the second quarter of 2021 to 90.9 percent in the second quarter of 2022); Naples, FL (up from 40.4 percent to 83.1 percent); Ocala, FL (up from 44.4 percent to 85.2 percent); Gulfport, MS (up from a loss of 6.5 percent to a gain of 30.8 percent) and Yuma, AZ (up from 42.7 percent to 77.8 percent).

The biggest annual profit-margin increases in metro areas with a population of at least 1 million in the second quarter of 2022 were in Orlando, FL (margin up from 36.4 percent to 67.6 percent); Tampa, FL (up from 47.4 percent to 76.3 percent); Miami, FL (up from 38.9 percent to 66.8 percent); Cleveland, OH (up from 21.4 percent to 42.1 percent) and Jacksonville, FL (up from 43.4 percent to 63.4 percent).

Profit margins decreased annually in just 20 of the 183 metro areas analyzed (11 percent) and annually in only nine metro areas (5 percent). The biggest annual decreases were in Salem, OR (margin down from 87.5 percent in the second quarter of 2021 to 55 percent in the second quarter of 2022); Hilo, HI (down from 140.8 percent to 110.5 percent); Boise, ID (down from 122.8 percent to 100.1 percent); Salisbury, MD (down from 57.1 percent to 48.6 percent) and Albany, NY (down from 35.4 percent to 28.3 percent).

The largest annual decreases, or smallest gains, in profit margins among metro areas with a population of at least 1 million came in Atlanta, GA (down from 48.9 percent to 42.8 percent); Sacramento, CA (up from 61.5 percent to 62.5 percent); San Francisco, CA (up from 81.5 percent to 83.1 percent); Washington, DC (up from 44.9 percent to 46.7 percent) and Boston, MA (up from 49.8 to 52.9 percent).

Median home prices in the second quarter of 2022 exceeded values from the prior quarter in 181 (96 percent) of the 183 metropolitan statistical areas with enough data to analyze and were up annually in 180 of those metros (96 percent). Nationally, the median price of $346,000 in the second quarter was up from $318,000 in the first quarter of 2022 and $300,000 in the second quarter of last year.

The biggest annual increases in median home prices during the second quarter of 2022 were in Gulfport, MS (up 55.3 percent); Naples, FL (up 36 percent); Lakeland, FL (up 35.7 percent); Fort Myers, FL (up 31.7 percent) and Port St. Lucie, FL (up 29.8 percent).

The largest annual increases in metro areas with a population of at least 1 million in the second quarter of 2022 were in Tampa, FL (up 29.3 percent); Orlando, FL (up 25.5 percent); Phoenix, AZ (up 25.3 percent); Nashville, TN (up 24.3 percent) and Charlotte, NC (up 24.2 percent).

Home prices in the second quarter of 2022 hit or tied all-time highs in 168 percent of the 183 metro areas in the report, including New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX, and Houston, TX.

The largest annual decreases, or smallest increases, in median prices during the second quarter of 2022 were in Toledo, OH (down 3.4 percent); Davenport, IA (down 2.7 percent); Peoria, IL (down 0.8 percent); Rockford, IL (up 2.1 percent) and Trenton, NJ (up 2.2 percent).

The smallest annual increases in metro areas with a population of at least 1 million in the second quarter of 2022 were in Honolulu, HI (up 4.4 percent); Buffalo, NY (up 5.5 percent); Virginia Beach, VA (up 6.3 percent); Rochester, NY (up 6.7 percent) and Baltimore, MD (up 7.4 percent).

Alabama is the southeastern US state that is home to major landmarks from the American Civil Rights Movement. Take for example the city of Birmingham, that was a protest headquarters in the 1960s for Martin Luther King. Now we should note that while this article uses descriptons such as black and white, we do not feel that color lables help human society to live as one, we prefer that all people are seen as people and feel that labels fuel racial divide, segregation and separation. However for this article to reference history in a general way we appologies to the human race for using color groups to discuss the past. The city is well-known all over the world for its role in the civil rights movement in America. For this and other reasons, Birmingham city is a famous historical city.

Thinking back and going down the memory lane, Birmingham featured quite prominently in world news, highlighting the great struggle between Americans of African origin and the Whites. This was especially the case between 1950-1960. When people think about the American civil rights movement, Birmingham quickly comes to mind. Indeed, this city does not just symbolize the civil rights struggle in America. It actually symbolizes this struggle as reflected in various parts of the world.

In 1963 till the end of the 20th century, the state of Alabama constituted a new legislative house and that of the disenfranchised. These series of laws and practices were, in time, used to deny the Black population the right to vote. This situation ultimately pitted the Blacks against the whites as two classes involved in a struggle. The Blacks were not even allowed to register in the common voters' roll. In 1964 in came the civil rights act.

The legislative measures established discrimination based on color, caste and sex. In time, these repressive measures ended with the introduction of voter enrolment requirements in offices, schools and public accommodation places. Regardless of these positive developments, it is notable that the powers necessary to enforce the remedial legislation were still weak and thus the law became largely ineffective.

The tourism elements, at this time, took steps to make capital of the situation. They hastened to build many impressive infrastructural facilities. Among these is the stately Civil Rights Institute. This museum provides a remarkable picture of how the biggest city in South Alabama eventually went on to become an extremist state. In time, the city became prominent in fighting during the equal rights war.

Geographically speaking, Birmingham city borders the valley Appalachians and the rich mountain ridges. In the south of Birmingham are the Red mountains. This city is filled with wooded hills. The residents have peculiar food habits. Moreover, the city is blessed with great music endowment. The food here can be quite delicious. The city's many souvenirs give Birmingham a genuine homely atmosphere. Nevertheless, despite these factors, the people's food habits can quite peculiar.

Some foods that are loved by people here are rich in the sense that they give a taste of the city's history and tradition. Being an industrial city, Birmingham has always attracted plenty of laborers who come from varied agricultural backgrounds.

The city of Birmingham features a variety of cuisine that trace their origin back to African and American cultures. Among foods that are regarded as most important in this southern part of the US is soul food. The word soul has a special connotation. It indicates a combination of African and American cultures involved in the life of this city.

Soul food was first popularized in the 1960s decades. It is notable that the migrants, in a way, considered soul food as a stark reminder of the past life in America's northern cities. Interestingly, most of the soul food restaurants were owned by blacks. Such restaurants were generally regarded as some kind of a rendezvous, or place of meeting, for people of African descent. In time, soul food progressively became the African staple food.

Interestingly, these days, soul food is a common meal for both blacks and whites. The main staple food in some parts of America is maize or corn. The cuisine associated with most parts of the Southern Native America include blackberries, raspberries and other peculiar berries. Many Native Americans typically supplement their diet with meat that they get from hunting expeditions.

Birmingham's diverse culture led to the city becoming the birthplace of a brand new music style. This style slowly gained a global influence. In the 1950s, for instance, the rock and roll style of music was introduced. It quickly became a craze. The popularity of this genre of music continued into the 1960s when the Drum beats genre took over. It quickly gained national and international fame. Further, the leading folk music scholars started recording sensational productions at this time.

North America represents roughly 25% of the global consumer market, and the Interstate 69 corridor, which bisects the United States north to south and connects it with Canada and Mexico, is one of its main supply chain arteries. Many of North America's largest industrial hubs are located along this route and key international crossings feed this North American supply chain artery. COSTEP recently analyzed the 2019, 2020, and 2021 truck crossing counts on the U.S.-Canada and the U.S.-Mexico borders. The U.S.-Canada points of entry of the I-69 corridor analyzed include Detroit and Port Huron in Michigan, and Buffalo-Niagara Falls in New York. The U.S.-Mexico points of entry of the I-69 corridor were Laredo, Hidalgo/Pharr, Brownsville, Progreso, Rio Grande City, and Roma, all located in the Rio South Texas region.

In 2019, the Michigan/New York State region saw 3,254,623 inbound truck crossings, while the Rio South Texas region saw 3,412,118, making both the busiest international truck-borne trade regions on their respective borders. The difference was minor, only 157,485 trucks, or 4.8%. The outbreak of the pandemic negatively impacted trade in 2020, but to a varying extent. For the Michigan/New York State, 2020 truck crossings dropped significantly, down to 2,917,738.

The 2020 Rio South Texas region truck crossing totaled 3,387,816, meaning the decline was much less severe, and difference between the two regions grew to 470,078 trucks, or 16.1%, in favor of Rio South Texas.

As the North American economy rebounded in 2021, both received a resurgence of activity, with Michigan/New York State seeing 3,147,251 truck crossings, and Rio South Texas' total rising to 3,739,519. However, these numbers also reflect a further expanding gap of 592,268 trucks, or 18.8%, in favor of Rio South Texas.

Directly comparing the 2021 numbers to 2019 shows that, in 2021, Michigan/New York State was still down 107,372 trucks, or -3.3%, compared to 2019. By contrast, in 2021, Rio South Texas was up 327,401 trucks, or 9.6%, above the 2019 figures, squarely placing the Rio South Texas region at the Heart of the North American supply chain. Rio South Texas, where vibrant communities on both sides of the Rio Grande River come together to create unparalleled global opportunity and a richer, more rewarding setting for life and work. No other single location can supply what Rio South Texas offers as one region: The best of the U.S. and the best of Mexico, allowing your enterprise to leverage an incomparable wealth of North American assets. Where two nations flourish as one region, where people and industry thrive together.