Retail and Business

Analysts are increasing sales forecasts for Standard & Poor’s 500 index companies by the most in three years, Bloomberg reported.

Revenues will climb 10 percent in 2011, twice last year’s rate, as personal income and …

The 2011 Global Petroleum Survey, released today by the Fraser Institute, found that Mississippi ranked as the top place in the world for oil and gas investment. Mississippi took the No. 1 spot out of …

Meredith Corp. today announced the acquisition of EatingWell Media Group, a multi-channel brand focused on healthful eating, as well as the launch of website Recipe.com, which will pair recipes with digital coupons.

More than 60 …

Social Media Club Des Moines will host two events this week, including a breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. tomorrow at Palmer’s Deli and Market at 2843 Ingersoll Ave.

The cost is $5. On June …

An Iowa organization has awarded a group of Wells Fargo & Co. employees with a Healthy Investment Award for their donation of more than $63,000. That was the largest amount collected from a single workplace …

More Americans than forecast filed first-time unemployment claims last week and consumer confidence fell, Bloomberg reported.

Applications for unemployment benefits increased by 9,000 in the week ended June 18 to 429,000, according to figures released …

Manufacturing is still a key part of the Iowa economy, according to two Iowa State University researchers.

Dave Swenson and Liesl Eathington, both economics researchers with the university’s Regional Economics and Community Analysis Program, released …

Ruan Corp. President and CEO Steve Chapman has been elected to a two-year term as chair of the United Way of Central Iowa board of directors.

Chapman succeeds Wells Fargo Home Mortgage co-president Cara Heiden. …

To assist victims of the tornado that swept through Joplin, Mo., last month, the Nationwide Insurance Foundation announced today an additional $50,000 donation to support the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. To date, Nationwide …

The head of Pacific Investment Management Co. (PIMCO), the world’s biggest bond fund, predicted that Greece and other European nations would default on their debts to resolve their problems as the euro area deals with …