Consumer Report
May 17, 2013 6:01pm

Record-Breaking Week on Wall Street

Stocks finished out another record-breaking week. The Dow, S&P and NASDAQ stock indexes have posted four straight weeks of gains. The Dow Jones Industrial average ended the day up 121 points to close the week at 15,354. Year-to-date, the Dow is up 17 percent.  … Read More »

Consumer Report
May 17, 2013 2:56pm

Steak n’ Shake Waitress Scores $446 Tip on $6 Check

If service with a smile results in a good tip, then Steak n’ Shake waitress CeCe Bruce is smiling from ear to ear. Bruce, a waitress for the past two years at a Steak n’ Shake in Indianapolis, is $446 richer after a longtime customer… Read More »

Economy
May 17, 2013 2:06pm

Unemployment: How Does Your State Rank?

More signs that the job market is slowly recovering: 40 states showed a drop in unemployment in April. Louisiana, Tennessee and North Dakota showed an increase in the unemployment rate, while rates were unchanged in seven states, according to the Labor department. The country’s unemployment… Read More »

By Abby Ellin

Consumer Report
May 17, 2013 2:02pm

Taco Bell Sued By Prisoner for ‘Stealing’ Doritos Locos Idea

 Where do wildly popular fast food ideas come from? According to Gary Cole: Prison. That is the contention of Cole, who claims that it was he who invented Taco Bell’s famous Doritos Locos tacos while doing time in maximum security federal prison in Florence Colorado.  He… Read More »

Companies
May 17, 2013 12:50pm

Bill Gates Regains Title of World’s Richest Person

Bill Gates has regained his title as richest man in the world after five years out of the top spot, beating Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim. The net worth of Gates, founder of Microsoft and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, hit a five-year… Read More »

By Josh Cohan

Economy
May 17, 2013 12:35pm

Consumer Confidence Rises to 6-Year High

American consumers are feeling better about the economy. Consumer confidence rose this month to 83.7 – better than expected and its highest level since July 2007, according to the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index. “Overall, a number of indicators in the economy have been… Read More »

Consumer Report
May 17, 2013 7:52am

Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, Nordstrom Sales Drop

Morning Business Memo… Some of the biggest names in shopping had a tough first quarter as cautious consumers reduced spending. Wal-Mart, Nordstrom and Kohl’s all reported a small decline in sales, largely because of the rise in payroll taxes that took a bite out of… Read More »

By ABC News

Consumer Report
May 16, 2013 1:09pm

Toner Thief Got $1.5M in Potato Chip Bags

By Chris Kilmer and Gio Benitez Modern workers have struck another form of “black gold”: printer toner, part of the $50 billion per year companies may lose to employees stealing from the office, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Marque Gumbs is out on parole… Read More »

By ABC News

Consumer Report
May 16, 2013 9:30am

College Class of ’13 Racks Up Debt of $35,200

The brutal rise in college costs over the past decade is leading students to take on unprecedented debt with the class of 2013 graduating with debt that averages $35,200, according to a new study by Fidelity. That figure, which includes federal, state and private loans,… Read More »

Companies Consumer Report
May 16, 2013 8:05am

Is Google This Year’s Apple?

Morning Business Memo… Google’s stock market value is now more than $300 billion. In recent months its shares have been soaring and closed above $900 for the first time, gaining more than 3 percent Wednesday. In the eyes of many investors, Google is making all… Read More »