January 2005

Perlite Events, Trends and Issues (U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2005). “Production of domestic perlite increased about 3% compared with that of 2003. This increase was the first since 1999 after having dropped nearly 27% between 2000 and 2003. Imports decreased about 22% compared with the record-high levels reached in 2003. Domestic apparent consumption dropped about 6% compared to 2003, continuing a trend that began in 2001. Since 2000, domestic apparent consumption has dropped about 18%. Consumption has declined mainly because of a continued decrease in the demand for perlite used in construction-related materials. The cost of rail transportation from the mines in the Western United States to some areas of the Eastern United States continued to burden domestic perlite with strong cost disadvantages compared with Greek imports. However, U.S. perlite exports to Canada partially offset losses from competition with imports in Eastern U.S. markets. Perlite mining generally takes place in remote areas, and its environmental impact is not severe. The mineral fines, overburden, and reject ore produced during ore mining and processing are used to reclaim the mined-out areas, and, therefore, little waste remains. Airborne dust is captured by baghouses, and there is practically no runoff that contributes to water pollution.” Read the complete report at http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/perlimcs05.pdf.

How will you fund your retirement? asks Hoard’s Dairyman (Jan. ’05). The article offers a number of tips, including, “Don’t rely solely on Social Security as a big chunk of retirement income in years ahead. . . . Start early, but it’s never too late. . . . Consider today’s tax consequences. . . . Pick a plan or plans (the article includes a chart comparing traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, and SIMPLE IRA).” The author notes, “The plans outlined above are the vehicles you use to set up a retirement plan. How you invest that money—how you drive that vehicle—is another question. . . . For all the plans, you can put the money in savings accounts, money markets, bonds or bond funds, stocks or mutual funds, insurance annuities, or in any combination of the above. . . . With all of the choices and consequences, it’s best to get professional advice to review your current retirement plans or to help you set up a new one. . . . Financial advisors generally charge one of three ways—a fee for their service, a commission on sales of investments, or a percentage of assets.”

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