In an age when currency crises in far flung parts of the world can cause layoffs at factories and offices in mid-America, it's important to keep up on news from the business world. The Two-Way monitors what's happening. We make sense of the trends.
Strong new-vehicle sales lead industry analysts to revise their forecasts for North American production levels in 2013, with J.D. Power & Associates and LMC Automotive predicting 16 million units will be produced — a mark not hit since 2002.
by Mark Memmott
There was more of a decline than economists expected, but the weekly pace hasn't really changed much since late 2011.
by Mark Memmott
The Fed chairman cautioned Wednesday that if interest rates were to start rising now, the economy could slump. Meanwhile, the National Association of Realtors said sales of existing homes rose — and would have been even stronger if not for tight inventory.
©2013 NPR
Microsoft unveiled its new Xbox One Tuesday, displaying a device that takes new steps in game consoles' journey into becoming all-purpose entertainment and communication devices. The new console replaces the Xbox 360, which has been on the market for more than seven years.
by Krishnadev Calamur
The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations said the tech giant claimed that three key offshore companies were not tax residents of Ireland or the U.S. One of those subsidiaries paid no taxes for the past five years while it reported income totaling $30 billion.
by Mark Memmott
Yahoo will pay about $1.1 billion for the six-year-old blogging site. Tumblr's leadership won't change and Yahoo promises it will be independently operated.
by Mark Memmott
S&P says Berkshire Hathaway has an "excellent business profile," but that its dividend income is too dependent on the insurance companies it owns. The move is not expected to have much, if any, effect on Buffett's company.
by Mark Memmott
The good news: Inflation remains in check. The bad news: Jobless claims are up, and housing starts are down.
by Mark Memmott
An Indiana farmer bought soybeans that he knew likely included some with genetic modifications developed by Monsanto. The agribusiness giant sued because it controls the patent on such soybeans. The Supreme Court says the farmer infringed on Monsanto's legal rights.
by Mark Memmott
The news could be another sign that the economy's picked up enough strength to convince employers that it's OK to hold on to workers.
by Marilyn Geewax
Airlines are flying fewer planes to small and midsize markets, part of a push to move more people through regional hubs, according to an MIT study. As the economy tumbled into recession, airlines shut down money-losing routes and moved to fill seats on remaining flights.
by Scott Neuman
The bill still faces an uphill battle in the House, where many Republicans oppose it as simply a new tax.
by Alan Greenblatt
The jobs report for April showed stronger job creation and a four-year low in the unemployment rate, sending stocks soaring. But the monthly numbers, while encouraging, are bound to be revised. That suggests that perhaps we're paying too much attention to them.
by Mark Memmott
The eagerly anticipated news was better than expected. And the Bureau of Labor Statistics revised upward its estimates of job growth in February and March.
by Mark Memmott
April job growth and unemployment figures are coming Friday morning. Economists expect to hear that employers added about 150,000 jobs to their payrolls and that the jobless rate stayed at 7.6 percent. But they worry about another negative surprise.
by Mark Memmott
There were 324,000 first-time claims for unemployment insurance last week, down 18,000 from the previous week's 342,000. Numbers on April's unemployment rate and job growth are due to be released Friday.
by Mark Memmott
Federal spending cuts and tax increases have started to bite, according to the latest ADP National Employment Report. On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will weigh in with its figures on unemployment and job growth in April.
by Mark Memmott
The latest S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices report shows year-over-year gains in 20 major cities. It's another sign that the housing sector, which crashed in 2007 and 2008, is on the mend.
Three popular pesticides are being banned in the European Union, where officials are hoping the change helps restore populations of honey bees, vital to crop production, to healthy levels.
Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, the passenger jet that was grounded around the world after flaws in its battery compartment were found to pose a fire risk, is back in the skies. Airlines in Japan and Ethiopia reported no problems after sending the 787 into the sky this weekend.
