News Cycles: Business News

Spike in Prius complaints may not be all it seems (AP)

AP - Reports of sudden acceleration in the Toyota Prius have spiked across the country. But that doesn't mean there's an epidemic of bad gas pedals in the popular hybrid.

Wholesale inventories fall while sales increase (AP)

AP - Businesses trimmed inventories at the wholesale level again in January even though sales rose for a 10th consecutive month. The dip in inventories underscored that businesses remain cautious about restocking their depleted shelves.

Senate passes jobless aid, business tax breaks (AP)

AP - The Senate voted Wednesday to extend key pieces of last year's economic stimulus measure, including help for the jobless and money to help financially strapped states pay for health care for the poor.

Budget deficit sets record in February (AP)

AP - The government ran up the largest monthly deficit in history in February, keeping the flood of red ink on track to top last year's record for the full year.

Britain confronts debt of Greek proportions (AP)

AP - Government debt is growing, as is the deficit. The economy is struggling to get out of recession and there is talk of spending cuts or higher taxes. The unions are on edge. And the currency is plummeting.

Stocks rise after inventories fall and sales gain (AP)

AP - Scant buying lifted stocks for a second day Wednesday after the government reported a drop in companies' inventories.

Kroger, Ruby Tuesday, UAL are big movers (AP)

Calif.'s unemployment rate 5th highest in nation (AP)

Quality Distribution 4Q profit fall as sales drop (AP)

Euro rebounds, gains on dollar (AFP)

AFP - The euro staged a modest turnaround against the dollar Wednesday in featureless trading as dealers looked for signals on prospects for the world economy and a proposed European monetary fund.

Quinn seeks income tax hike for schools (AP)

AP - Calling himself a realist, Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday scaled back his proposal to raise income taxes, shifting to a call for an increase of just one percentage point to be used solely for preventing deep cuts to education.

US views Doha framework as 'not satisfactory': lawmaker (AFP)

AFP - The United States is unhappy with the current framework of the Doha Round of negotiations to forge a global trade accord, a key lawmaker said Wednesday after talks with WTO chief Pascal Lamy.

Wal-Mart spent $1.78 million lobbying in 4Q (AP)

Home loan demand nudges higher in latest week (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. mortgage applications nudged higher last week, reflecting increased demand for home purchase loans even as interest rates trekked higher, data from an industry group showed on Wednesday.

ND oil rig count tops 100 (AP)

Chrysler names North American Fiat head (AP)

Real Estate's Link to the Small Business Credit Crunch (BusinessWeek)