The U.S. economy expanded at a 0.6 percent annual pace in the first quarter as an increase in inventories compensated for weaker consumer spending and a drop in business investment, Bloomberg reported. The gain in gross domestic product exceeded forecasts and matched the rate of growth in the previous three months, the Commerce Department reported today. The last time the economy grew less was in the fourth quarter of 2002. Economists forecast a 0.5 percent gain in first-quarter growth, according to the median of 80 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey.

Wells Fargo & Co. yesterday announced a quarterly common stock dividend of 31 cents per share. The dividend is payable June 1 to stockholders of record on May 9. The company has approximately 3.3 billion shares outstanding.

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. today declared a second-quarter common stock dividend of 41 cents per share, payable June 12 to stockholders of record May 15. This dividend is unchanged from the first quarter.

Des Moines International Airport (DSM) retained its position as the 90th most active commercial airport in the nation in 2007, based on passengers. Passenger traffic (in and out) totaled 1,982,633. Load factors (percentage of seats filled per flight) averaged more than 75 percent. The carriers at DSM averaged 60 domestic daily departures. The average roundtrip airfare out of DSM was $376, compared with $311 out of Omaha and $279 out of Kansas City.

The second annual National Walk @ Lunch Day event will take place today at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield offices in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Sioux City. A series of approximately one-mile outdoor walks are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. City of Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie and Wellmark Chairman and CEO John Forsyth will lead the 11:15 a.m. walk in Des Moines. The walk route begins at the corner of Seventh and Locust streets.

Iowa Telecommunications Services Inc. will release its 2008 first-quarter financial results before U.S. markets open tomorrow. The company will hold a conference call to discuss the first-quarter results tomorrow at 8 a.m. To listen, call (719) 325-4755. The live broadcast will be available online at www.iowatelecom.com or www.earnings.com.

Ankeny-based Karl Chevrolet has been named the No. 1 GM Certified dealer in the country for the second consecutive year. The Central Iowa Chevy dealer sold more GM-Certified pre-owned vehicles than all other GM dealers in 2007. GM executives will honor owner Carl Moyer at Karl Chevrolet with an award today at noon. The event will also serve as the ribbon-cutting for the all-new store front at Karl Chevrolet.

Dice Holdings Inc. announced that Scot Melland, chairman, president and CEO, and Michael Durney, senior vice president of finance and CFO, will present on May 8 at the Third Annual Needham & Company, LLC Internet & Digital Media Conference in New York City. The presentation will begin at 10:30 a.m. Investors and interested parties may listen to a live Webcast of the presentation by visiting www.diceholdingsinc.com.