business
Social media aids polio fight
Social media is playing a key role in Rotary International’s quest to make up for increasing costs and recession-wracked countries’ funding cuts to eradicate polio — just as the goal reaches a tipping point. “We are 99 percent of the way to making polio the …Read More
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Feds say drop in cash spent on tobacco promotion
The nation’s top tobacco companies spent less money on advertising and promotion of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products in recent years, according to the data from the Federal Trade Commission released Friday. The FTC said cigarette marketing decreased more than 5 percent to $8.05 billion.
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Unemployment rates rise in half of U.S. states
Unemployment rates rose in more than half of U.S. states last month, more evidence that hiring remains tepid across the country. The Labor Department said Friday that rates increased in 26 states. They fell in 12 states and were unchanged in 12.
iPhone fans pile into Apple store feeling ‘like LeBron James’
Clapping, cheering Apple store employees on Friday morning welcomed customers, some of who waited in line for days to get an iPhone 5 as as soon as the Michigan Avenue store opened. “I felt like Lebron James and Kobe Bryant,” said Julian Diggs, the first customer in the door.
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BlackBerry outage in Europe and Africa
The chief executive of struggling BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion apologized Friday after an outage in Europe and Africa interrupted service for customers on the very day Apple Inc. released its new iPhone 5. The service disruption lasted up to three hours for some BlackBerry users.
Stocks higher in U.S.; in Europe, vows to save euro
U.S. stocks traded higher Friday, as European leaders vowed to save the euro. In early afternoon trading, the Dow was up 43 points at 13,640. The S&P; 500 was up six to 1,466. The Nasdaq composite index was up 16 to 3,192.
GM recalls 474,000 midsize cars to fix transmission cables
General Motors is recalling nearly 474,000 Chevrolet, Pontiac and Saturn cars to fix a transmission problem that can cause the cars to roll away unexpectedly. The recall affects 2007-2010 Chevrolet Malibus, Pontiac G6s and Saturn Auras in the U.S.
Women business leaders, including Hefner, Ricketts, share advice for entrepreneurs
Richelle Shaw, Christie Hefner, Laura Ricketts, and Sue Bhatia shared what they have learned about success, and failure, at the Women’s Business Development Center conference Thursday.
Wrapports hires Groupon executive to lead digital venture
The owners of the Chicago Sun-Times said Thursday they have hired an executive from Groupon Inc. to lead a new venture in video production and in creating digital content about sports and business.
Illinois jobless rate rises third straight month, falls from year ago
The unemployment rate in Illinois climbed to 9.1 percent in August, up from 8.9 percent in July, marking the third straight month-over-month rise. But the rate was down from 10.2 percent in August 2011, according to a report from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Libertyville man pleads guilty to stealing CME Group software
A north suburban man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to stealing CME Group software in an attempt to create a similar product in China.
American Airlines pilots picket at O’Hare
As American Airlines and American Eagle say they will cancel 300 flights nationwide this week to cope with a high number of pilots reporting sick and an increase in maintenance reports filed by crews, the airlines’ pilots will be picketing at O’Hare Airport Thursday afternoon.
Household income in Chicago nearly $7,000 less than national average
The median household income of Chicagoans was $43,628 in 2011 — nearly $7,000 less than the national figure of $50,502 according to new Census Bureau estimates released Thursday.
Measure of future U.S. activity fell in August
A measure of U.S. economic activity declined in August for the second time in three months, suggesting the economy remains weak.
Chicago area home sales soar to highest level since July 2007
Home sales in the Chicago metropolitan area jumped 28.5 percent last month from a year earlier reaching the highest level in more than five years, according to a report from the Illinois Association of Realtors released Wednesday. But the median price fell 3.8 percent to $170,000. In Chicago, sales and the median price increased.
Rate on 30-year mortgage falls to record 3.49 percent
The average U.S. rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage touched its record low this week and the rate on 15-year mortgage hit a new record.
