Janelle Macri

THE development of so-called "main street" or strip shopping centres around the city has created another viable retail category outside of the traditional suburban and CBD shopping centres.

LOW-COST carrier Jetstar has expanded its domestic offering for the Perth market, adding two extra services out of Perth commencing in February 2009.

WESTERN Australia had a trade surplus of $41.

THE state government posted a record surplus in 2007-08 of $2.56 billion, fuelled by significant growth in mining royalties and taxation revenue.

INTERNATIONAL visitor numbers to Western Australia reached record highs in 2007-08, while domestic tourism continued to struggle.

The Chinese economy is expected to remain resilient over the next financial year and is well placed to weather a downturn in the global economy, according to CommSec.

THE business of putting more trees in the ground and keeping them there may soon become one of the more viable options for the forestry sector, with two announcements this week a sign of the times.

WESTERN Australia's tourism industry has called on the new state government to fast-track tourism developments in the city and regional areas and help combat the labour shortage.

THE waste sector has thrown its support behind the inclusion of waste emissions in the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, saying it will set a price signal to encourage economically and environmentally efficient solutions in waste reduction, recycling, wa