Biz Buzz

It’s coming. The question is when. As of Friday, the state average was $3.77 for regular. The pumps have passed $4/gallon in many other parts of the country.

So, what do you think? When will we start paying $4/gallon in NeMiss? And if you are feeling adventurous, care to take a guess at which town will hit it first?

If you asked me last week, I would have said we’ll have $4 gas here within two weeks. But, crude is down today, so I’m going to say we are going to hit $4/gallon of regular around June 23. Who is going to hit the unmentionable price tag first? IMO, it will be West Point.

And, if you’ll think back to a story we wrote in January citing a senior market analyst at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration - you’ll recall that he only expected gasoline prices to hit $4 this summer in parts of California.

No new Toyota-related jobs this week on Job Central or Mojo (previous coverage). But you still have your pick of almost 100 job opportunities, not including listings with the other industries in the area.

Job Central:
It looks like the Toyota folks have been busy hiring. We’re now down to 17 jobs from 28 last month. Positions include:
• Paint Production Assistant Manager
• Stamping Engineering Specialist
• Body Weld Production Group Leader
• Quality Body Operations Assistant Manager
• Paint Maintenance Group Leader
Click here and search for “Toyota” to find out more info and to apply. Note that you will get a few jobs for auto techs at dealerships.

On MOJO:
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi still has 60 jobs listed. Job opps include tool and die maintenance, facilities maintenance and multi-skilled maintenance.
• Auto Parts Manufacturing MS (supplier in Baldwyn) still has nine jobs listed. Job opps include maintenance team leader and tool & die maintenance team leader.
• Toyota Boshoku (supplier near Fulton) still has five job openings. Titles include department manager, maintenance manager and quality manager.
• In addition, SeverCorr (Columbus), Golden Triangle Mills Service (Columbus) and ACCO Inc. (Booneville) have job openings listed. GE-Aviation in Batesville is hiring as well.
Click here for more info and to apply.

Mike Naylor, who currently has nine Little Caesars franchises in the Jackson area, is opening a Little Caesars location in Tupelo. It’s slated to open in mid-May at 2434 West Main, which is in the shopping center that is home to Dippin’ Dots.

After the Tupelo location opens, Naylor is moving on to conquer Starkville, Oxford and Columbus. Read more in tomorrow’s Daily Journal.

From MarketWatch:

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Truck maker Paccar Inc. reported Tuesday a 20% decline in first-quarter profit as strong demand overseas wasn’t enough to make up for continued weakness in the U.S. and Canadian markets.

The Bellevue, Wash.-based manufacturer posted a profit of $292.3 million or 79 cents a share, down from $365.6 million or 97 cents a share a year earlier.

The maker of Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks said big rig demand in the U.S. has been stung by higher fuel prices, lower housing starts and declining auto production.

Paccar is building an engine plant in Columbus. It’s also accepting job applications now. From the Paccar earnings press release about our plant:

In 2007, PACCAR announced plans to build a $400 million engine manufacturing and assembly facility in Mississippi. The facility will complement the company’s engine factory in the Netherlands and enable the company to manufacture PACCAR 12.9L and 9.2L engines for use in Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF vehicles. Jim Cardillo, executive vice president said, “Construction of the world-class, high-technology engine facility is due to be completed in late 2009.”