Retail and Business

Target Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are testing out smaller versions of their big-box stores in rural and urban areas where those large retailers have had trouble making inroads, MSNBC.com reported.

The companies, which are …

Iowa’s gross state product grew by more than 3 percent in 2010 from the previous year, the fourth-highest growth rate among 12 Midwest states, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. …

A postal strike in Canada may force the U.S. Postal Service to suspend acceptance of mail to Canada if an agreement is not reached by June 17. Canada Post late Tuesday shut down its operations …

Retail sales fell in May for the first time in 11 months, dragged down by a sharp drop in receipts at auto dealerships, according to a government report that could raise fears of a prolonged …

Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. said that it is indefinitely delaying the commercial launch of the genetically modified soybean seed at the center of a long-running court battle with archrival Monsanto Co., The Wall Street Journal …

Optimism among U.S. CEOs fell in the second quarter from a record high as fewer business leaders projected that sales will climb, Bloomberg reported.

The Business Roundtable’s economic outlook index decreased to 109.9 for the …

The YMCA of Greater Des Moines is preparing to open its new YMCA Supportive Housing Campus at 2 S.W. Ninth St.

The campus is part of YMCA’s Supportive Housing Program, designed to combat homelessness by …

The state of Iowa gets an “A” in manufacturing, according to the 2011 Manufacturing and Logistics Report Card, prepared by Ball State University’s Center for Business and Economic Research.

The study reviews and ranks states …

Profits at American companies are poised to be one of the few bright spots in the economy, helping to steady the faltering recovery, Bloomberg reported.

Earnings will climb an average 10 percent a year through …

Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc. said it will sell all but an 18.5 percent stake of its Arby’s chain to private equity firm Roark Capital Group in a deal valued at $430 million. Roark will pay $130 …