Business category, Page 126
U.S. adds a robust 311,000 jobs despite Fed’s rate hikes
WASHINGTON — America’s employers added a substantial 311,000 jobs in February, fewer than January’s huge gain but enough to keep pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates aggressively to fight inflation. The unemployment rate rose to 3.6%, from a 53-year low of 3.4%, as more Americans began searching...
Deepening worries about high rates send Wall Street lower
NEW YORK — Stocks stumbled Thursday on Wall Street and added to the week’s losses as markets remain anxious about the prospect of more aggressive action by the Federal Reserve to fight inflation. Major indexes started the day higher and gradually lost ground until they fell sharply in late trading....
Visa, Mastercard pause decision to track gun shop purchases
NEW YORK — Visa and Mastercard paused their decision to start categorizing purchases at gun shops, a significant win for conservative groups and Second Amendment advocates who felt that tracking gun shop purchases would inadvertently discriminate against legal firearms purchases. The decision is, at the same time, also a defeat...
Pittsburgh airport officials unveil plans for Fort Pitt Tunnel-inspired bridge connecting terminals in $1.4B projectVideo
The automated tram that has taken air travelers between Pittsburgh International Airport’s two terminals since they opened in 1992 will stop running when a new, $1.4 billion terminal opens in 2025. Allegheny County Airport Authority officials on Thursday unveiled plans for a connector bridge that will link the new terminal...
Yeti recalls 1.9 million coolers and cases for magnet hazard
U.S. product regulators said Thursday that Yeti has recalled 1.9 million coolers and gear cases because magnets can come detached from them, posing a risk of serious injury or death. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said consumers should immediately stop using the four recalled products and contact Yeti for refund...
GM offers buyouts to most U.S. salaried workers to trim costs
DETROIT — General Motors is offering buyouts to most of its U.S. salaried workforce and some global executives in an effort to trim costs as it makes the transition to electric vehicles. The Detroit automaker wouldn’t say how many workers it is targeting, but confirmed that the move is aimed...
Applications for U.S. jobless aid rise by most in 5 months
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits last week jumped by the most in five months, but layoffs remain historically low as the labor market continues to be largely unaffected by the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes. Applications for jobless claims in the U.S. for the week ending March...
Shell CEO pay up 50% as soaring energy prices boosted profit
LONDON — The pay package for Shell’s CEO jumped by half last year to nearly $12 million, the fossil fuel giant said Thursday, as oil and gas companies made record profits from skyrocketing energy costs that have driven a cost-of-living crisis. London-based Shell paid Ben van Beurden a total of...
California to end Walgreens $54 million contract after abortion disputeVideo
SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday withdrew a $54 million contract with Walgreens after the pharmacy giant indicated it would not sell an abortion pill by mail in some conservative-led states. Newsom on Wednesday ordered state officials to not renew a contract with Walgreens to purchase specialty pharmacy...
Adidas wonders what to do with Yeezy shoes after Ye split
FRANKFURT, Germany — Adidas is still wrestling with how to dispose of $1.3 billion worth of Yeezy shoes after its breakup with the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, forcing the German sportswear maker into a big loss at the end of last year and expectations of more pain ahead....
January U.S. job openings dip, but still high at 10.8 million
WASHINGTON — U.S. employers posted 10.8 million job openings in January, indicating the American job market continues to run too hot for the inflation fighters at the Federal Reserve. Job openings fell from 11.2 million in December but remained high by historical standards, the Labor Department reported Wednesday, but layoffs...
U.S. investigates Tesla for steering wheels that can fall off
DETROIT — U.S. auto safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla’s Model Y SUV after getting two complaints that the steering wheels can come off while being driven. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the probe covers an estimated 120,000 vehicles from the 2023 model year. The agency...
Westmoreland airport ‘waiting for everything to shake out’ as feds try to block Spirit, JetBlue merger
At Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, there’s little to do but wait and see how things play out as its only commercial carrier gets swept into Justice Department turbulence. The Biden administration Tuesday sued to block JetBlue Airways’ $3.8 billion purchase of Spirit Airlines, saying the deal would reduce competition and...
Stocks tumble on fears about faster rate hikes, Dow down 570Video
NEW YORK — Stocks sank Tuesday after the head of the Federal Reserve warned it could turn the dial back up on its hikes to interest rates if pressure stays high on inflation. The warning shook markets and raised worries about a possible recession down the line. The S&P 500...
Starbucks’ Schultz agrees to testify before Senate committee
Howard Schultz has agreed to appear before a U.S. Senate committee that is examining Starbucks’ actions amid an ongoing unionization campaign. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Independent and chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said Tuesday that Schultz has agreed to testify before the committee on...
What to do if you’re concerned you might be laid off
NEW YORK — The job market in the U.S. remains strong overall, but recent high-profile layoffs at technology and media companies and predictions of a recession later this year may have you thinking about job security. If you’re worried you could be laid off — or if you’ve lost your...
Millennial Money: As Fed rates rise, save at a credit union
In the past year, the Federal Reserve has employed several interest rate hikes in an effort to stabilize the U.S. economy. Depending on your situation and financial institution, your debt may have gotten more expensive or your savings might have grown. As rates continue to change, it’s worth exploring whether...
Toblerone drops iconic design due to rules on ‘Swissness’
GENEVA — The makers of Toblerone are stripping images of Switzerland’s famed Matterhorn and the Swiss flag from the packaging of the milk-chocolate treat as they move some production to Slovakia. Mondelez International of Deerfield, Ill., which owns the Swiss-born brand, said Monday that it’s in the process of adapting...
Wall Street holds steady ahead of a potentially big weekVideo
NEW YORK — Stocks were mixed in quiet trading Monday as Wall Street stays in a holding pattern ahead of a potentially big week. The S&P 500 rose 2.78 points, or 0.1%, to 4,048.42 after coming off its first winning week in the last four. The Dow Jones Industrial Average...
Tesla price cuts: Flagging demand or tactic to boost sales?
DETROIT — In explaining why Tesla keeps cutting prices on its electric vehicles, the auto industry is pretty much divided into two camps. On one side are analysts who see an aggressive move by the leading manufacturer of EVs to gobble up sales and market share from its competitors just...
In ‘junk fee’ fight, U.S. details airline family seating rules
The Transportation Department is rolling out a “dashboard” to let travelers see at a glance which airlines help families with young children sit together at no extra cost. The announcement Monday comes as the department works on regulations to prevent families from being separated on planes. It’s the latest salvo...
Toy maker Funko dumps $30M in dolls to cut inventory
A toy maker known for its line of big-headed pop culture dolls depicting characters from film, TV and animation is planning to toss out about $30 million worth of the collectables to deal with some of the financial losses it is experiencing. Funko Inc. reported last week that it suffered...
Manufacturing apprenticeships a boon to students, employers
When his pursuit of a mechanical engineering degree at Penn State New Kensington was derailed, Cameron Fouse turned to Plan B. “I tried machining for the first time and learned everything I could online,” said Fouse, 29, of Ford City. An entry-level job at Metplas Inc. in Harrison landed Fouse...
‘Stake in the game’: Employee ownership plans can help a business thrive
Rick Scott has spent years making precise cuts in the wood used to build window frames at Thermo-Twin Industries Inc.’s assembly plant in Oakmont. In 27 years, the millwork specialist also has created a nice nest egg through the company’s KSOP, a retirement plan that combines an employee stock ownership...
Stocks rise and are on pace for first winning week in last 4
NEW YORK — Stocks are climbing Friday and on pace to close out their first weekly gain in the last four. The S&P 500 was 0.8% higher in midday trading as relaxing yields in the bond market took some pressure off Wall Street. It’s on track for a gain of...
