New-home construction takes a pause

After a strong start to the year, home builders have pared back, according to a report from the Census Bureau.
The number of new homes that began construction in March fell 5.8% to an annualized rate of 654,000 compared with February, the bureau said Tuesday. Housing starts were up year over year, however, by 10.3%. […]

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CarrierCompare: The iPhone app your carrier doesn’t want you to see

A new app hit the iTunes store Friday morning that your carrier probably isn’t too thrilled about.
It’s called CarrierCompare. Developed by Boston-based startup SwayMarkets, it allows you to see which carrier offers the best service for your iPhone in any given location.

The crowd-sourced app is simple to use. After you touch the start screen, […]

US brings new trade case against China

The Obama administration is bringing a new trade case against China that seeks to pressure Beijing to end export restrictions on key materials used to manufacture hybrid car batteries, flat-screen televisions and other high-tech goods.
The latest action, announced Tuesday, is part of President Barack Obama’s broader effort to crack down on what his administration sees […]

Air Canada: Why adding the Boeing 787 Dreamliner could be a travel gamechanger

Air Canada is pinning its future business strategy on Boeing

BOJ Openings Can Shape Monetary Policy - Bloomberg

Japan

U.K. Retail Sales Unexpectedly Increased in January: Economy - Bloomberg

U.K. retail sales unexpectedly rose for a second month in January, adding to signs the economy may strengthen in the current quarter and avoid a recession.
Sales including fuel rose 0.9 percent from December, when they rose 0.6 percent, the Office for National Statistics said today in London. Economists forecast a 0.3 percent decline, according […]

Bank of England backs another stimulus

The Bank of England is to inject another 50 billion pounds ($79 billion) into the British economy, which contracted in the last three months of 2011 and is likely to face further difficulties as Europe struggles to contain its raging debt crisis.
The new stimulus, approved by the nine-member Monetary Policy Committee on Thursday and which […]

University of Charleston: How we cut tuition by 22%

After seeing enrollment decline for the first time in a decade, the University of Charleston, in West Virginia, slashed tuition by 22% for the upcoming school year hoping to entice more students.
The school, which currently has 1,006 undergraduate students, employed a series of initiatives to afford the cut, including reducing its financial aid, […]

Demand for Barbie helps push Mattel 4Q profit up

Mattel Inc. says strong holiday demand for toys including Barbie, Hot Wheels and American Girl helped push its fourth-quarter net income up 14 percent.
The holiday quarter is crucial for toy makers, who can make up to half of annual sales during the period.
The No. 1 U.S. toy maker reported Tuesday that its net income rose […]

Fewer people sought unemployment aid last week

The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell further in the final week of 2011, a positive sign for hiring one day ahead of Friday’s December employment report.
The Labor Department says weekly applications dropped 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 372,000 last week. It was the fourth drop in five weeks. The four-week average, which smooths […]