Amcore. Food, discounters victory big in 2008 on nearby stock token Today.

ROCKFORD - Discounters and grub companies were the first-class winners in 2008 on the Register Star’s heritage index, which suffered its worst year since 2002. The staple of five companies on the Star 60, which tracks publicly traded companies significant to the neighbouring economy, managed to ending 2008 above 2007. On the other hand, five companies saying their forefather capitulate more than 80 percent. Overall, the first finger tumbled 32 percent, its sharpest degeneration since the key was created in 1989, and its start with year-over-year shelter since 2002 when it fell 21 percent after the bursting of the tech bubble. Still, prosperity is relative.

And if you were heavily invested in these five companies, 2008 was a unbelievably sizeable year: Allegiant Travel Co.’s ancestor soared 51.1 percent on its energy as one of the only helpful airlines in the country. Allegiant, which flies out of Chicago Rockford International Airport to Las Vegas, Mesa, Ariz., and two destinations in Florida, dropped fuel-guzzling long-haul routes in favor of shorter trips.

It also slashed capacity, reducing frequency and eliminated routes during stolid times, bringing them back only when there was enough demand. Wal-Mart Stores, the world’s largest retailer, proverb its stereotyped heighten 20 percent because the collapsing frugality worldwide sent more shoppers to its rebate stores. Wal-Mart employs nearly 2,800 citizenry in the Rock River Valley at six Wal-Mart locations and one Sam’s Club. General Mills old increased 9.5 percent, as food-processing companies benefitted from an eat-at-home direction in a jumpy conservatism that sadness restaurants.

General Mills employs about 700 grass roots at its Green Giant sow in Belvidere. Oak Brook-based McDonald’s Corp., which has 20 locations in Boone, Ogle and Winnebago counties, slogan an 8.6 percent increase.

Despite the struggles of other restaurant chains, McDonald’s reported increased yield every spot of 2008. Kroger Co., which owns the Hilander Food Store chain, rallied Wednesday to publish a 0.1 percent attainment for 2008.

Banks and nonfood retailers dominated the decliners. General Motors Corp.; Bon-Ton Stores Inc.; National City Corp., which was acquired Wednesday by Pittsburgh-based PNC Financial Services; and the only Rockford-based attendance on the index, AMCORE Financial, sage 80 percent-plus declines in their extraction prices.

One manufacturer, Rhode Island-based Textron Inc., also floor more than 80 percent. General Motors closed its monument position in Janesville, Wis., on Dec. 23 and is able to be replaced on the index.

AMCORE curtailed its native worker unvarying from more than 900 in 2000 to about 775 this year as a bevy of weakness residential advancement loans caused the presence to check in losses for the existence three quarters. Reach Assistant Business Editor Alex Gary at or 815-987-1339.

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