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Business briefs [Telegraph-Herald (Dubuque, IA)](Telegraph-Herald (Dubuque, IA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Slim pickings for most phone makers NEW YORK - It's shaping up to be a cold fall for smartphone makers other than Apple, as the trendsetter of the phone industry gears up to release the next iPhone. Nokia and Motorola, which a few years ago were the No. 1 and No. 2 phone makers, revealed new phones at back-to-back press events in New York on Wednesday. Apple makes its iPhone announcement next week. The phones are impressive in their own right and sport improvements, but analysts didn't see anything about them that would change the prospect of an iPhone-dominated holiday season. Survey: U.S. ranking again tumbles LONDON - The United States' ability to compete on the global stage has fallen for the fourth year running as confidence in the country's politicians continues to decline, an annual survey from the World Economic Forum found Wednesday. Even though the world's largest economy saw its overall competitiveness rise on the back of its status as a global innovation powerhouse, the Forum says the U.S.'s ranking has dropped two places to seventh this year. The Netherlands and Germany have moved ahead of the U.S. on the top 10 leaderboard. U.S. productivity grows 2.2% in spring WASHINGTON - U.S. companies got more output from their workers this spring than initially thought. Productivity rose at a modest 2.2 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter, largely because employers cut back sharply on hiring. Most economists expect productivity will slow later this year, a trend that could boost hiring. The Labor Department said Wednesday that productivity in the second quarter was better than its initial estimate of a 1.6 percent gain. Realtors: U.S. homes selling at faster pace LOS ANGELES - U.S. homes are taking less time to sell than a year ago, reflecting more homebuyer demand and fewer bank-owned homes and other properties available for sale in some markets. The National Association of Realtors said Wednesday that the median time a previously occupied home was listed for sale shrank in July to 69 days. That's down from 98 days in the same month last year. One-third of the homes purchased in July were on the market for less than a month, while one in five was on the market for at least six months. Ford issues another recall of new Escape DETROIT - Ford is recalling 7,600 new Escapes to fix coolant leaks that can cause engines to overheat or catch fire. The recall affects 2013 models with 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engines. Plugs in the engine may not have been installed properly and can fall out while the motor is running. Coolant can leak and cause engines to overheat. Owners should make service appointments as soon as possible, said Ford spokeswoman Marcey Zwiebel. Group sues FDA over Aricept safety TRENTON, N.J. - A consumer group pressing the Food and Drug Administration to remove the highest dose of an Alzheimer's disease drug from the market is suing the agency. Public Citizen said Wednesday that the FDA's own medical and statistical reviewers found that high-dose Aricept doesn't work better at controlling symptoms of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's than two low doses. However, the group said the high dose has more dangerous side effects that include vomiting. In Alzheimer's patients that "can lead to pneumonia, massive gastrointestinal bleeding, esophageal rupture or death." Safeway plans IPO of gift-card business PLEASANTON, Calif. - Safeway Inc. said Wednesday that it plans to take its gift-card business, Blackhawk Network Holdings Inc., public by the first half of 2013. The supermarket chain said it plans to file a registration statement for the public offering of a minority stake in its Blackhawk business. The exact timing of the IPO depends on market conditions. Blackhawk sells gift cards at grocery stores and other retailers. It also operates the website GiftCardMall.com. The Associated Press (c) 2012 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |