Tuesday, January 6
'Granny robber' facing prison time
LEBANON, Ohio, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- An Ohio prosecutor says a 68-year-old woman known as the "granny robber" should get a hefty prison term for holding up banks.
GM to get another $5.4B by Jan. 16
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- General Motors Corp. will be able to tap into a second helping of federal loans totaling $5.4 billion on Jan. 16, the U.S. Treasury Department says.
Europe dragged into Gazprom dispute
MOSCOW, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- A Gazprom official in Russia said Europe was forced to deal with Ukraine's "theft" of natural gas while a dispute over Ukraine's Gazprom bill continues.
Grains sharply higher in Chicago Tuesday
CHICAGO, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Grains closed sharply higher on the Chicago Board of Trade Tuesday, despite a stronger U.S. dollar.
Crude oil prices jump on supply tensions
NEW YORK, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices rose on the New York Mercantile Exchange Tuesday on tensions in the Middle East and a natural gas supply disruption in Europe.
Study: Shade trees lower bills, emissions
SACRAMENTO, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Shade trees on the west and south sides of a house in California can reduce summertime electricity use and reduce carbon emissions, a study indicates.
Rash of retailers end jobs in Britain
LONDON, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- British retailers began shedding jobs right after the holiday shopping season with thousands of positions slated to end soon, sources said.
Debt falling while credit is tight
NEW YORK, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. corporations and consumers are downsizing debt while credit remains tight, possibly marking a sea change in spending attitudes, a bank economist said.
Citgo suspends U.S. heating oil donations
CARACAS, Venezuela, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Venezuela's state-owned oil company is suspending a program of donating free heating oil to low-income consumers in the United States, officials say.
Two Fla. lawyers charged in Ponzi scheme
MIAMI, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Two Florida lawyers helped bilk investors from around the world out of more than $800 million in a massive Ponzi scheme, U.S. prosecutors say.
Porsche in awkward bidding position
SODERTALJE, Sweden, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- German luxury automaker Porsche is being obliged to bid on a Swedish truck company that it has previously said it does not want, the company said.
Toyota to suspend domestic production
TOKYO, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Toyota Motor Co. said it will furlough factory workers in all of its Japanese plants for 11 days in February and March due to declining automobile sales.
Auto Sales Figures Plummet; Chrysler Hit Hardest
Jan. 6--Hammered by the recession and the credit crunch, consumers stayed away in droves from car lots coast to coast last month, dealing Chrysler a staggering blow.
Obama to ride in style in new limo
DETROIT, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- General Motors says its latest custom-built presidential limousine makes its debut on Jan. 20 when it carries president-elect Barack Obama to his inauguration.
Forecast: Canadian real estate prices fall
TORONTO, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- A Canadian national realty firm predicts a correction rather than crash in the country's housing sales in 2009 in a report released in Toronto Tuesday.
Retail sales rise during week
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Retail sales in the United States rose slightly in the week ending Jan. 3, the International Council of Shopping Centers-USB reported Tuesday.
Monday, January 5
Washington Post executive stepping down
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The Washington Post's managing editor announced Monday he is stepping down this week after four years on the job.
Whitman Resigns From Corporate Boards
Meg Whitman, the former chief executive officer of the Internet auction site eBay, is inching toward a run for California governor in 2010, observers say.
Crane rigger indicted in collapse
NEW YORK, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Prosecutors allege a rigging contractor knowingly used deteriorated slings to support a crane that collapsed in midtown New York, killing seven people.
Crude oil rises Monday
NEW YORK, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices rose Monday on political tensions and an oil production cut, which began in the new year.
Grains mostly higher Monday in Chicago
CHICAGO, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Grains closed mostly higher on the Chicago Board of Trade Monday as corn prices stayed low, while wheat, soybeans and oats made gains.
U.S. auto sales plunged in December
DETROIT, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. auto companies reported plunging auto sales in December with Detroit's Big Three claiming sales at least 30 percent below December 2007.
Car sales fall 5th straight year in Japan
TOKYO, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Domestic sales of new cars in Japan fell for the fifth consecutive year in 2008, the Japanese Auto Dealers Association said Monday.
California avocados looking at lean year
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- California avocado farmers expect the 2009 crop to be the smallest since a freeze decimated 1990's fruit, a growers' association said.
Japanese sailor missing from whaler
TOKYO, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A sailor from a Japanese whaling ship was missing after likely falling overboard in the Antarctic Ocean, a spokesman for the whaler's operators said.
GM to begin seeking key concessions soon
DETROIT, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. auto giant General Motors Corp. has scheduled key negotiations this week to begin the process of proving it can reshape itself into a profitable company.
Cubans can now build own houses
HAVANA, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Another sign of change has cropped up in communist Cuba with President Raul Castro's announcement that Cubans can build their own homes with their own money.
Construction spending down in November
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Spending on private and public construction in the United States fell less than expected in November, the U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday.
Canadian consults Norway on oil wealth
EDMONTON, Alberta, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The provincial minister of finance for the Canadian province of Alberta is seeking advice from Norway on handling billions of dollars in oil revenue.
250 - Year-Old Company Enters Bankruptcy
Waterford Wedgwood, maker of Waterford Crystal, says it has gone into administration (bankruptcy) in Britain after missing a deadline with lenders.
Sunday, January 4
EU won't take sides in gas dispute
BRUSSELS, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The European Union will not take sides in the dispute between Russia and Ukraine over back payments for gas, an official said Sunday.
Texas boats fishing Louisiana reefs
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Louisiana oystermen say too many boats from Texas are using their oyster reefs just as the industry is beginning to recover from Hurricane Katrina.
Barn fire kills hundreds of farm animals
TOLDEO, Ohio, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Investigators are searching for the cause of a fire that killed hundreds of goats and other farm animals in Oregon, Ohio.
Saturday, January 3
Burned Bangkok club lacked license
BANGKOK, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Bangkok police allege a nightclub that burned to the ground killing at least 61 people New Year's Eve had no insurance or operating license.
Bank of England may cut interest rates
LONDON, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- The Bank of England may soon cut interest rates on savings accounts to their lowest in its 315 years of operation due to the economy, experts say.
Dem governors urge $1 trillion in spending
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Five influential U.S. Democratic governors say it will take $1 trillion in federal spending to ease state budget cuts, create jobs and aid schools.
Ford: Lincolns to have self-park feature
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Some luxury Lincoln models will include an automatic parallel parking feature next year, U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co. says.
Ukraine denies siphoning Russian gas
KIEV, Ukraine, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Ukraine's state gas company Naftogaz said Saturday it was not stealing from Russia's Gazprom, despite the latter company's claims.
Chrysler receives promised $4 billion loan
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Chrysler LLC says it has received the $4 billion that the U.S. Treasury agreed to loan the struggling U.S. automaker in December.
Manufacturing Sees More Losses
Jan. 3--Like many industries, the manufacturing sector seems headed for a tough start to 2009, with the latest industry index released Friday showing activity continued to decline in December. The losses were widespread and, in many cases, signified historic lows.
Friday, January 2
Private investors agree to buy IndyMac
PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- IndyMac Bank, the California thrift that was taken over by federal regulators in July, found a buyer Friday, a group of private investors.
Crude oil prices rise Friday
NEW YORK, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices rose on the New York Mercantile Exchange Friday, as tension in the Middle East offset a stronger dollar.
Grains mostly higher in Chicago Friday
CHICAGO, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Grains closed mostly higher on the Chicago Board of Trade Friday as crude oil prices gained slightly in New York and the dollar strengthened.
Gold eclipses hard times in Nevada town
BATTLE MOUNTAIN, Nev., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The economic slowdown hasn't dodged the small gold-mining town of Battle Mountain, Nev. -- it's done something else: It's helped, town residents said.
Dairy can't turn off supply spigot
HANFORD, Calif., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The economic downturn has backfired on U.S. dairy farmers, who had added cows during good times and now find supplies dragging prices down, observers said.
Steel output in sharp decline
NEW YORK, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. steelmakers, in a healthy resurgence through most of 2008, have seen output cut drastically since September, the American Iron and Steel Institute said.
Hybrid car sales plummeted in November
DETROIT, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. hybrid car sales plummeted in November, falling faster than sales of conventional, gasoline-powered cars, an industry research group said.
Manufacturing index hits 28-year low
TEMPE, Ariz., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. manufacturing activity declined for the fifth consecutive month in December, falling to a 28-year low, the Institute for Supply Management said Friday.
Retailers urged to be pro-active on crowds
MINEOLA, N.Y., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Retail analysts say a Long Island, N.Y., police plan to control shopper crowds offers some solid ideas on preventing repeats of the deadly Wal-Mart stampede.
Viacom apologizes for ad snafu
NEW YORK, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Viacom has confirmed its agreement in principle with Time Warner Cable in the wake of ads suggesting the contrary that ran in several U.S. newspapers Friday.
Visteon shifts to four-day work week
BELLVILLE, Mich., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. auto parts supplier Visteon Corp. said it will shift 2,050 jobs to four-day work weeks to save 20 percent of its labor expenses.
Ukraine set to pay most of Gazprom bill
MOSCOW, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Russia's energy giant Gazprom said it would receive the bulk of Ukraine's natural gas bill payment by Jan. 11, but critical issues remain outstanding.
GM and GMAC agree to new terms
DETROIT, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. automaker General Motors Corp. said it would offer zero percent financing for several models through Jan. 5 after adjusting an agreement with GMAC.
Thursday, January 1
Iraq opens new oil fields to bids
TEHRAN, Iraq, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Iraq said it would open a new round of licensing bids for companies to develop untapped oil fields that could produce up to 2.5 million barrels per day.
Wells Fargo completes Wachovia Corp. deal
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- San Francisco bank Wells Fargo & Co. said it had closed on its purchase of Wachovia Corp., making it the fourth-largest U.S. bank measured by assets.
Exxon argues for Alaskan oil lease
ANCHORAGE, Ala., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Exxon Mobile Corp. said it was ready to drill at Alaska's Point Thomson oil field contrary to the state's assertion the company would rather procrastinate.
Russia cuts Ukraine's natural gas supply
MOSCOW, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Russian energy giant Gazprom cut off Ukraine's natural gas supply Thursday when talks about a 2009 energy contract failed, the company said.
Experts expect retail obits in 2009
NEW YORK, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Experts say the 2008 shopping season that fizzled was the fuse that will lead to thousands of U.S. store closings in 2009.
Wednesday, December 31
900 pigs killed in Canadian farm fire
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A spark from a welder is being blamed for a barn fire that wiped out 900 young pigs at a farm in Canada, authorities said.
Crude oil prices surge
NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices soared Wednesday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, although prices closed more than $50 below levels that closed out 2007.
Grains sharply higher Wednesday
CHICAGO, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Grains closed sharply higher on the Chicago Board of Trade Wednesday, in line with an upbeat day on Wall Street.
New rule requires safe rooms in mines
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Mines will be required to have safe rooms for miners trapped by cave-ins and fires under new rules from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Honey importing becomes 'nasty'
SEATTLE, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The seemingly simple business of importing honey has become so rife with international intrigue that one U.S. broker said he was leaving the business.
Tuesday, December 30
Slovakia poised to join Eurozone
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The first Central European state to adopt the euro, Slovakia, is poised to officially join the Eurozone Thursday, officials said.
Grains mostly higher Tuesday in Chicago
CHICAGO, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Grains closed mostly higher on the Chicago Board of Trade Tuesday as traders said selling and end-of-the-year news were both light.
HBOS pension trustees may challenge merger
LONDON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Trustees of Britain's HBOS bank's pension fund said they are considering a legal challenge to the bank's merger with Lloyds TSB to protect their pension plan.
U.S., Russia cut trade deal for poultry
MOSCOW, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Russian and U.S. officials said a new poultry and pork trade agreement cuts the quota for U.S. poultry exported to Russia and raises some import duties.
Gazprom warns Europe of delivery problem
KIEV, Ukraine, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A billing dispute between Russia's natural gas giant Gazprom and the Ukraine government could turn into a winter delivery problem for Europe, the company said.
U.S. home prices drop in month
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The home prices index for 20 U.S. metropolitan regions dropped for the 27th consecutive month in October, a closely watched housing index said.
Treasury invests $6 billion in GMAC
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- GMAC said the U.S. Treasury's purchase of $5 billion of its preferred stock would allow it to immediately expand its loan offerings to consumers.
Deadly crane collapse probed in Hunan
YONGZHU, China, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Chinese officials have ordered an inspection of all construction cranes in Yongzhou City following a collapse that killed three people and injured five others.
Retail season weakest in 38 years
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Retail sales through the holiday shopping season were the weakest in 38 years, the International Council of Shopping Centers reported Tuesday.
Retailers to close stores after sales fall
NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Early holiday sales figures indicate tens of thousands of U.S. retailers will close stores in 2009, industry observers said.
Black job losses in auto industry are high
DETROIT, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A disproportionate number of African-American auto workers have lost jobs since the U.S. recession began, a Washington research firm said.
Chinese dairies to compensate milk victims
BEIJING, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Chinese dairy companies blamed for selling deadly tainted milk agreed to pay $160 million in compensation to the victims, a dairy association official said.
Monday, December 29
Weeds used for weed control
GIZA, Egypt, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Organic plant waste has proven to be an effective weed control for citrus trees, Egyptian researchers reported Monday.
Grains close lower Monday
CHICAGO, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Grains closed lower on the Chicago Board of Trade Monday as the dollar gained strength against the euro.
Study: City mulch helps pumpkin patches
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Leaf mulch may improve field conditions of "you-pick" pumpkin patches while providing a cost-effective urban leaf recycling program, U.S. researchers said.
Brazil arrests man in nun's killing
DENVER, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Brazilian prosecutors allege a documentary film has undermined the alibi of a rancher suspected in the killing of Sister Dorothy Stang.
Coin trove not enough to cover losses
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Thousands of gold and silver coins found in the home of a St. Louis-area banker won't be enough to cover losses claimed by his investors, an attorney says.
Nuns leaving Kansas town
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The Ursuline order of Roman Catholic nuns will be leaving Paola, Kan., after 113 years there as part of a consolidation, the town's mayor says.
States to implement new laws in 2009
AUGUSTA, Maine, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- New laws will take effect in U.S. states from Maine to Washington on New Year's Day, officials say.
German politician calls for aid to autos
BERLIN, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- German Foreign Minister Franc-Walter Steinmeier says the government should help the country's automobile industry with consumer tax breaks and financial aid.
More melamine suspects face trial in China
SHIJIAZHUANG, China, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Four more people from China's dairy industry went on trial Monday on charges they produced milk products tainted with melamine, officials said.
Bank woes mean opportunity for some
NEW YORK, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The financial meltdown of 2008 has created a banner year for a few opportunistic U.S. lawyers, whose business it is to advise banks.
GMAC critical to GM's future
DETROIT, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A failure at U.S. lender GMAC could undermine the survival of auto giant General Motors Corp., an industry analyst says.
Sunday, December 28
Report: Chemical in organic fertilizer
SACRAMENTO, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Some California crops meant to be organically produced turned out not to be organic due to use of a fertilizer containing a synthetic chemical, records show.
New Orleans storm surge fix proves vexing
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is studying how to provide 100-year storm-surge protection to a portion of New Orleans, officials say.
Takeover of Daewoo Shipbuilding delayed
SEOUL, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- South Korea's state-run Korea Development Bank said Sunday it can delay a deal to sell Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering to Hanwha Group by one month.
South Korean banks to help car makers
SEOUL, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Banks in South Korea are expected to help troubled car makers that are willing to restructure, sources say.
Saturday, December 27
Russian finance minister: Big 2009 deficit
MOSCOW, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Russia's finance minister predicted a large budget deficit in 2009 and said Saturday the economy might be at its lowest point since World War II.
Decline predicted for British economy
LONDON, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- The British economy is facing an uncertain future as the country's gross domestic product is expected to decline dramatically next year, a group says.
Palin 2009 calendar an online hit
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- A 2009 calendar focused on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is the top office product supply item being sold on Amazon.com, figures indicate.
Woolworths begins British store closings
LIVERPOOL, England, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- More than 200 Woolworths stores across Britain closed Saturday, with the chain's remaining 600 British stores likely to be shuttered by Jan. 5, analysts said.
Chinese dairy firms to pay victims
BEIJING, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- China says firms involved in the country's tainted milk scandal have offered victims a settlement as the first defendants in the cases go to trial.
High grocery prices defy wholesale drops
CHICAGO, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. food price inflation won't retreat in grocery stores until next year, despite current price plunges for agricultural commodities and fuel, experts say.
Finances scuttle $5B in NYC development
NEW YORK, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Financial woes have delayed or canceled nearly $5 billion in New York City development projects, squelching an important job source, industry experts say.
Boxing Day sale crowds can't dispel gloom
LONDON, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Record post-Christmas Boxing Day shopping crowds enticed by deep price cuts could not dispel the gloom gripping the British retail industry, observers said.
Friday, December 26
New Zealand storms cost $200 million
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Winter storms in New Zealand have cost insurance companies $300 million in claims this year, officials said.
Crude oil prices rise Friday
NEW YORK, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices rose Friday to more than $37 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange in a holiday-shortened trading week.
Grain prices higher in light trading
CHICAGO, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Grains closed higher on the Chicago Board of Trade Friday on a light trading day in which crude oil prices gained in New York.
Obama hopes to avoid Clinton mistakes
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Political observers say President-elect Barack Obama hopes to avoid the mistakes of the Clinton administration by working with Congress on a healthcare plan.
Green energy thwarted by winter
NEW YORK, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Winter's bitter cold can stall wind turbine blades, congeal biodiesel and render solar panels useless, say U.S. power developers.
Shopping season extended with sales
NEW YORK, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- A challenging retail holiday season went into overtime on the day after Christmas with U.S. retailers slashing prices to attract customers.
Boxing Day sales in Britain draws millions
LONDON, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Retailers in Britain are bracing for what some say could be the biggest Boxing Day sales event ever, with discounts up to 90 percent to lure in customers.
Automaker loan puts healthcare at risk
DETROIT, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- A loan stipulation calling for U.S. automakers to pay half of retiree healthcare costs with company stock carries high risks, a labor expert said.
Mortgage advisory firms criticized
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Profiteering mortgage consulting businesses have raised concerns among consumer advocates and U.S. bankers who say their services are often free.
Japan's Nov. industrial output plunges
TOKYO, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Japan's November industrial output fell 8.1 percent from October, the country's largest monthly decline, the government said Friday.
Thursday, December 25
Wachovia sends out settlement checks
NEW YORK, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- The Better Business Bureau has been fielding calls about checks people are getting from a U.S. court, and is assuring callers the checks are legitimate.
U.S. retails sales plunge for holiday
NEW YORK, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Steep discounts stirred up last-minute shopping but this Christmas season shapes up as "one of the worst" on record, U.S. retail analysts said Thursday.
Sweden fires suspicious, police say
UMEA, Sweden, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Christmas Eve fire destroyed a three-story student housing building in Umea, Sweden, but there were no injuries reported, a fire service authority said.
Wednesday, December 24
Retailers propose sales tax holidays
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A retailers group said Wednesday it asked President-elect Barack Obama to include national sales tax holidays in the upcoming U.S. economic stimulus package.
Melting snow saves businesses money
ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A Canadian company says businesses can save money using its snow-melting machines to get rid of the white stuff instead of paying to haul it away.
Chavez orders mall construction halted
CARACAS, Venezuela, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Appalled by the size of a future shopping mall, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ordered that construction stop on the retail center in the nation's capital.
Jobless claims hit 26-year high
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- First-time claims for U.S. unemployment insurance jumped by 30,000, reaching a 26-year high during the week, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Wednesday.
Crude prices slide
NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices slid Wednesday to under $36 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange with demand worries prevailing as the market winds down for the year.
Japanese automakers' output falls
TOKYO, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Japan's five major automakers experienced sharp falls in sales and production in November, the companies said.
Grains close higher Wednesday
CHICAGO, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Grains closed higher on the Chicago Board of Trade Wednesday in a quiet, pre-Christmas day of trading.
A funereal day for SUVs
JANESVILLE, Wis., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- An icon of the road, the sports utility vehicle, is on wobbly legs as U.S. consumers shift to smaller cars has forced plants to close.
Russia buys stake in Serb oil company
MOSCOW, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- The presidents of Serbia and Russia signed energy agreements Tuesday that include the sale of 51 percent of the Serbian state oil company to Gazprom Neft.
British retailers order Colgate recall
LONDON, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Two British retail groups announced the recall of thousands of counterfeit Colgate toothpaste products.
Retailers promising post-holiday sales
NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- U.S. retailers, in a discount mood to make up for lethargic spending, are promising bigger discounts after the holidays.
Retailers urged to keep up charity moves
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A majority of U.S. consumers say retailers should continue to support social or environmental causes even during an economic recession, a survey indicates.
Crude stock down in week
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- U.S. crude oil inventories dropped by 3.1 million barrels in the week ending Dec. 19, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday.
Toronto stores brace for Boxing Day crush
TORONTO, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Big box retailers in Toronto are taking measures to avoid mayhem among shoppers Friday, the post-Christmas shopping blitz known as Boxing Day.
Laptop shipments surge ahead of desktops
NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- The world of computers is getting noticeably smaller, a U.S. research group pointed out, claiming laptop shipments now exceed desktop shipments.
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