China raises nonresidential electricity rates AP (November 20, 2009) SHANGHAI (AP) - China raised electricity rates for businesses and industries Friday, part of a long-term effort to adjust prices to reflect costs and promote energy saving as the country struggles to meet soaring demand.
Ex-smoker's lawyers to discuss $300M Fla. verdict AP (November 20, 2009) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A former smoker who just won a $300 million verdict in Florida against Philip Morris USA has pulled out of a news conference about the case.
Chase drops arbitration from card contracts AP (November 20, 2009) BOSTON (AP) - JPMorgan Chase & Co. said Friday it is dropping a clause from its credit card contracts that required disputes with customers to be handled through binding arbitration, a move that could lead to consumers filing class-action and other lawsuits.
Senate hears need for bank overdraft controls AP (November 18, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Consumer advocates on Tuesday urged Congress to move forward on legislation to curb bank practices under which a cup of coffee bought with an overextended debit card can turn into a $40 expense.
Ford, Subaru, VW win insurance industry picks AP (November 18, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Ford, Subaru and Volkswagen lead the insurance industry's annual list of the safest new vehicles, according to a closely watched assessment used by car companies to lure safety-conscious consumers to showrooms.
Wholesale inflation up less than expected in Oct. AP (November 17, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Wholesale prices rose less than expected in October as the weak economy keeps inflation pressures largely in check.
FDA finds bits of steel, rubber in Genzyme drugs AP (November 13, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal health regulators have found tiny particles of trash in drugs made by Genzyme, the second time this year the biotechnology company has been cited for contamination issues.
FDA backs off oyster ban after strong criticism AP (November 13, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration is backing off a plan to ban raw oysters from the Gulf of Mexico during warm weather.
Foreclosures dip 3 pct. in October from September AP (November 12, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - The number of homeowners on the brink of losing their homes dipped in October, the third straight monthly decline, as foreclosure prevention programs helped more borrowers.
Americans may be settling into spending less AP (November 12, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Americans spent about the same amount in October as in August and September, according to figures released Thursday by a key data service, and they may be settling into new low-spending habits.
Housing plan helps 20 pct in Calif, Nev., Ariz. AP (November 10, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration's plan to combat the foreclosure crisis has reached about 20 percent of troubled homeowners in the states most affected by the housing meltdown, according to data being released Tuesday.
Carbon storage? Not under my house! AP (November 10, 2009) BARENDRECHT, Netherlands (AP) - The people of this small Dutch town are not against pumping tons of carbon dioxide into the ground to fight global warming.
Housing plan reaches 1 in 5 borrowers AP (November 10, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - After a slow start, the Obama administration's mortgage relief program has reached one in five eligible homeowners, a government report says.
Treasury: China must boost domestic demand AP (November 10, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - China must continue to work to boost domestic demand to avoid global imbalances in the flows of trade and investments between nations, a senior U.S. Treasury official said Tuesday.
Nokia to recall 14 million chargers AP (November 09, 2009) HELSINKI (AP) - Nokia Corp. announced Monday that some 14 million mobile phone chargers could be dangerous for users and said it will replace them free of charge.
Boston Scientific paying $296 million settlement AP (November 06, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Medical device maker Boston Scientific Corp. said Friday it will pay $296 million to settle a Department of Justice investigation into the company's Guidant unit.
Ahead of the Bell: Consumer Credit AP (November 06, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Consumers likely reduced their borrowing for an eighth straight month in September, as layoffs continue and credit remains tight. The declines in borrowing are expected to drag on the fledgling economic recovery.
EU agrees on new Internet user rights AP (November 05, 2009) BRUSSELS (AP) - EU lawmakers and governments agreed on new rights for Internet users Thursday, aiming to protect them from arbitrary crackdowns on those who illegally download music and movies on the Internet.
Ala.: Unapproved substance found in fish imports AP (November 05, 2009) MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Ron Sparks on Wednesday extended a two-year-old order banning the sale of untested fish from Vietnam and China in Alabama.
Fannie Mae to rent out homes instead foreclosing AP (November 05, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Thousands of borrowers on the verge of foreclosure will soon have the option of renting their homes from Fannie Mae, under a policy announced Thursday.
Iowa AG: States must help protect consumers AP (November 04, 2009) DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says the states should continue to have a role in protecting consumers from fraudulent practices.
Shoppers, small businesses planning to spend less AP (November 03, 2009) (AP) - TIGHT-FISTED?: A third of U.S. adults said they would spend less this year than they did in 2008 on gifts, while 49 percent would spend about the same amount, according to a Consumer Reports poll on holiday shopping.
EU lifts 2010 growth forecast AP (November 03, 2009) BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Commission on Tuesday predicted that the EU and eurozone will grow in 2010 at a modest rate of 0.7 percent as the economy moves from a sharp recession to a hesitant and fragile recovery.
Bug spray likely killed infant, injured 2 in SC AP (November 03, 2009) COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Bug spray that produces a fog to kill insects is likely to blame for the death of a 10-month-old South Carolina boy, and his 2-year-old brother was critically injured by the fumes, authorities said Monday.
Mass. considers clampdown on toxic substances AP (November 02, 2009) BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts lawmakers are considering tighter restrictions on the use of toxic chemicals in consumer products as a way to encourage the use of safer alternatives.
UK mortgage approvals up 6 pct in September AP (October 29, 2009) LONDON (AP) - Mortgage approvals in the U.K. rose 6 percent in September as the country's battered housing market improved, but cautious consumers paid off debt faster than they borrowed, the Bank of England said Thursday.
Worsening job picture fuels slide in confidence AP (October 27, 2009) CHICAGO (AP) - Consumers' confidence about the U.S. economy fell unexpectedly in October as job prospects remained bleak, a private research group said Tuesday, fueling speculation that an already gloomy holiday shopping forecast could worsen.
US safety chief says China helping on drywall AP (October 26, 2009) BEIJING (AP) - China is helping American officials investigate reports of contaminated Chinese drywall after thousands of American homeowners complained the building material made them sick or damaged their houses, a top U.S. safety official said Monday.