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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Industry halts food label program over FDA concern AP (October 23, 2009) PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Smart Choices nutrition labeling program, created voluntarily by nine large U.S. manufacturers, is halting after federal regulators said such systems could mislead consumers, officials with the labeling group said Friday.
House panel says states can protect consumers AP (October 21, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The House Financial Services Committee has voted to let states regulate large national banks when it comes to protecting consumers from fraud and abuse.
Bernanke weighs faster credit card protection AP (October 21, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Moving up the effective date of tough new regulations to protect credit card customers from sudden interest rate increases could be a double-edged sword, according to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
Taser issues advisory on use of stun guns AP (October 21, 2009) PHOENIX (AP) - Taser International is advising police agencies across the nation not to shoot its stun guns at a suspect's chest.
Duke agreement would raise NC rates 7 percent AP (October 20, 2009) RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Duke Energy's 1.8 million customers in North Carolina would see power bills rise on average a combined 7 percent over the next two years as part of a tentative agreement with consumer attorneys who had balked at a larger increase.
House panel to empower states to protect consumers AP (October 20, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Liberal Democrats struggled Thursday to give states new powers to protect consumers from fraud and abuse, but banks may be able to nix the idea when a financial overhaul bill reaches the House floor.
Microsoft retrieves lost Sidekick contacts AP (October 20, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Microsoft Corp. says owners of T-Mobile Sidekick phones who lost their contacts and other data in a server meltdown can now at least get their contact numbers back.
Wal-Mart and Amazon.com trade price cuts on books AP (October 16, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - An online book special offered by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is turning into a full-fledged price war with Amazon.com.
Consumers show signs of life as prices stay low AP (October 15, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Consumers may be slowly regaining their appetite to shop, as the prices they encounter in stores remain low.
Safeway 3Q profit drops 35 percent on slow sales AP (October 15, 2009) PLEASANTON, Calif. (AP) - Safeway Inc.'s third-quarter profit fell 35 percent because of price-cutting and lower sales at its supermarkets.
Ford adds 4.5M vehicles to defective switch recall AP (October 14, 2009) DETROIT (AP) - Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday it will add 4.5 million older-model vehicles to the long list of those recalled because a defective cruise control switch could cause a fire.