KVAL - News - Business

Trade deficit widens to $48.8 billion in December

The Commerce Department said Friday that the overall trade deficit widened to $48.8 billion in December because imports grew at a faster pace than exports. It was the largest imbalance since June.

Japan seeks waiver from U.S. penalties on Iran

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda says Japan is trying to negotiate a waiver from U.S. penalties on companies doing business with Iran. He says Tokyo is seeking other suppliers to offset a reduction of Iranian oil imports.

'What's funny to one person may not be to another person'

The ad only aired half a continent away on radio in Kansas City, but the message resonated in Eugene with pit bull owners who say the breed gets a bad name.

Buy a beer at a food cart? Portland asks state to craft rules

The City Council voted 4 to 1 Wednesday to ask the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to create rules for how food carts handle selling beer or wine.

Democrats propose 6-week cut in jobless benefits

Congressional Democrats are urging a modest six-week cut in the number of weeks that unemployed workers can receive jobless benefits as House-Senate talks on a payroll tax cut slowly inch along.

Ford CFO Booth to retire, CEO Mulally staying put

Two top Ford executives who helped lead Ford's comeback from financial disaster are retiring, but CEO Alan Mulally says he has no plans to leave.

Kodak to stop making cameras, digital frames

Eastman Kodak Co. said Thursday that it will stop making digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames, marking the end of an era for the company that brought photography to the masses more than a century ago.

Wholesale inventories rose 1 percent in December

Wholesale businesses increased their stockpiles sharply in December although the gains are expected to slow in coming months, a development that could curb overall economic growth.

Pepsico to cut 8,700 jobs; 4th qtr net rises

PepsiCo said it plans to cut 8,700 jobs, or about 3 percent of its workforce, as it tries to offset higher costs for ingredients and increased spending on advertising in North America.

13,000 is next Dow milestone, with record in sight

It was just last summer that the Dow Jones industrial average shed 2,000 points in three terrifying weeks. Investors had a host of things to worry about, including the possibility of another recession.