Homebuilders such as Centex Corp. and Pulte Homes Inc. aim to survive an industrywide unraveling by selling houses at bargain prices, slashing jobs and scrapping growth plans.

But as the housing downturn worsens, experts say at least a few major U.S. homebuilders may end up bankrupt.Builders constructed more than 2 million housing units nationwide in 2005, the year the boom peaked. So far this year, housing starts have fallen to an annual rate of 1.2 million units through September, and economists expect the number to drop to an annual rate of 1 million by mid-2008.Some analysts foresee a shakeout similar to that of the early 1990s, when numerous builders went through bankruptcy, including Reston. Va.-based NVR Inc. and U.S. Home Corp. of Houston, now part of Miami's Lennar Corp.

12.11.2007: Meldung: GreenShift Corp.: Shareholder Letter

We continue to make great strides in our development but we continue to face the significant challenges presented by the complexities of a capital structure that has prevented the translation of our successes into shareholder value. Most of you are aware of the history: while our structure resulted in the successful financing, acquisition and development of our core technologies and operations, it has developed into a costly distraction and an unnecessary drain on our resources. Earlier this year we announced our plan to cure this deficiency by combining two separate mergers � the merger of GS AgriFuels and GS Energy and the merger of GreenShift and GS CleanTech � with the liquidation of non-core assets, the restructuring and refinancing of our debt, and increases in our sales and earnings.

November 1—City mulls 2008 budget during study

Following an all-day study session last Saturday to look over the budget for the coming year, Puyallup city officials and council members re-conveyed for another lengthy session in the council chambers on Monday night, Oct. 29.

The council logged another four hours trying members� patience and attention span.

This segment of the budget discussion focused on funds allotted for improvements of neighborhood streets. City manager Jim Bacon proposed $6.185 million toward water utilities, wastewater utilities and storm water utilities, with the largest chunk proposed for arterial streets.

�This is intended to be about a local street improvement program,� Bacon said. �The budget doesn�t have to be spent on northeast and northwest neighborhood projects. Other funds will still be there for local streets.

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The cuts came following a special membership meeting Sept. 16, where members reached a consensus of cutbacks, New Deal Café Board Secretary Bill Wilkerson said.

The café, a cooperative enterprise run by a board of directors and located in the Roosevelt Center, has struggled financially for years. It has unpaid loans, a depleted line of credit and outdated equipment. With donations and loans from Greenbelt residents and organizations, the café has managed to stay open for seven years.

‘‘Since it has opened, the New Deal Café has been a great place to meet new friends and share new ideas and information. It has a very stimulating atmosphere," Wilkerson said.

Joel Moodie, the café’s general manager since June, said the restaurant accumulated $60,000 in debt from unpaid loans and not investing in capital projects for the restaurant.