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Retail and Business

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Private employers added 163,000 jobs in July

ADP Employment Services Inc. released data this morning showing companies hired people more than expected in July.


ADP performs payroll services for companies around the country and tracks employment from month to month. 

In July, …

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Consumer confidence rose in July

For the first time in five months, consumer confidence rose in July, with more consumers optimistic about the labor market and the economy in the next six months. 

The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, an independent …

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Best Buy founder will need new execs if the company goes private

Best Buy Co. Inc. founder Richard Schulze has been recruiting executives to help lead the retailer if his attempt to take the company private is successful, according to a senior Best Buy executive, Bloomberg reported.…

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Mars Café to close on Aug. 18

Drake University-area coffee shop Mars Café, 2318 University Ave., will close on Aug. 18, owner Larry James Jr. announced in a Facebook post yesterday.

Mars opened in 2006 and has been popular among Drake students …

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Retail group hopes to end tax loophole

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is continuing its efforts to end a retail sales tax loophole that is says hurts small businesses in Iowa. Advocates of eliminating the loophole say that Web-based retailers like Amazon.com…
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IEDA awards five businesses

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) board granted financial assistance to five Iowa companies on Friday, including two in the Des Moines area.

Financial assistance was awarded to the companies to create jobs and help …

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Viacom, DirecTV reach deal, end blackout

Viacom Inc. and DirecTV announced they have reached a deal Friday morning, allowing Viacom’s programming to immediately return to the satellite TV service, CNNMoney reported. 

The agreement ends a dispute over fees that had interrupted programming since July 10. Viacom …

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Iowa unemployment rate hits 5.2 percent in June

Iowa’s unemployment rate increased slightly during June, hitting 5.2 percent, up from  5.1 percent in May. The U.S. unemployment rate for June remained at 8.2 percent.

Iowa’s total nonfarm employment decreased by 2,400 jobs in …

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SBA makes loans available for 43 Iowa counties

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced this morning that small, non-farm businesses in 43 Iowa counties are eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans.

The SBA has made the loans available for businesses …

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Disabilities coalition to boycott hotels

A coalition of disability rights advocacy groups is organizing a protest of hotels belonging to two lobbying groups the coalition claims is trying to “whittle down” the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

The coalition – …