Drake University will announce the largest gift ever to its College of Business and Public Administration at a news conference at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in Cowles Library Reading Room, 2725 University Ave., Des Moines. The gift will give students and faculty members more opportunity to hone entrepreneurship skills through a new center for entrepreneurial leadership.

A spike in energy costs and increases in the price of new and used vehicles resulted in a 0.3 percent rise in consumer prices in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said today. The government’s index of energy prices has risen in five of the last six months, as prices for gasoline, fuel oil, natural gas and electricity have increased. Food costs increased slightly after declining in two of the previous three months, the BLS said. In the Midwest, consumer prices increased 0.1 percent in October. Nationally, the rise in consumer prices triggered a 0.1 percent decline in average hourly earnings, according to a separate BLS report released today.

Home construction is at its lowest point in six months, according to a government report released today. In October, home builders began construction at an annual rate of 529,000 new homes during the month, which is 10.6 percent below September’s rate and 30.7 percent below the rate in October 2008. It was the lowest level of housing starts since April. Read more.

Principal Financial Group Inc. announced that John Aschenbrenner, president of insurance and financial services, will retire at the end of 2009 after more than 37 years with the company. Upon Aschenbrenner’s retirement, Dan Houston, president of retirement and investor services, will assume leadership of the life, health and specialty benefits businesses in addition to his current role leading the U.S. asset accumulation segment. His new title will be president of retirement, insurance and financial services.

Challenges facing farmers, including state and federal budget cuts, an economic downturn and difficult commodity markets, will be discussed at Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s 91st annual meeting on Dec. 2 and 3 at the Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines. For more information about the event, click here.

Tigerhawk Proteins LLC, a niche marketing and distribution company based in Oskaloosa, has purchased the premium brand Vande Rose Farms from Source Verified Foods LLC, the company announced today. The purchase gives Vande Rose Farms brand the resources to focus on providing premium Duroc pork and premium Hereford beef to high-end restaurants, resorts, country clubs and retailers.