Business briefs 10/28/04

Number of working immigrants up, native-born down

WASHINGTON -- The number of adult immigrants holding a job has grown by more than 2 million since 2000, while the number of employed native-born Americans fell by nearly a half-million, according to a study released Wednesday by a group that favors stricter immigration controls. The Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies, in its analysis of Census Bureau data, also found that occupations with some of the highest unemployment rates among U.S.-born citizens tended to be in job sectors such as construction that had the largest influx of recent immigrants.

Boeing, FAA inspect planes for dangerous scratches

WASHINGTON -- Boeing Co., working with federal safety officials, is investigating tiny scratches on some older model planes to see if they are evidence of a potentially dangerous problem with the jets' outer shells. The scratches, or scribe marks, occur when a plane is prepared for repainting, said Boeing spokesman Jim Proulx. Workers scrape off a sealant used on the joints that hold together sections of the aircraft's aluminum skin, he said. The scribe marks can lead to deeper cracks that can spread, potentially leading to an uncontrolled decompression that can strip off pieces of the skin, according to an FAA safety bulletin issued late last year.

Economic growth continues despite rising energy costs

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. economy continued to grow in the early fall despite being buffeted by rising energy costs and hurricanes, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday, providing its last snapshot of business conditions before Election Day. The survey of business activity around the country, compiled from reports submitted by the Fed's 12 regional banks, depicted an economy that was moving ahead despite the string of hurricanes that hit Florida and other Southern states and a surge in crude oil prices.

-- From wire reports