Retail and Business

Job cuts announced so far this year are down 24 percent from a year ago, according to statistics released today by Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.

Through the first four months of 2011, employers announced …

The American Business Women’s Association Greater Des Moines Noon chapter will hold a meeting on June 2. Sara Krouch will speak on “How to Make Networking Work for You.”

The meeting will start at 11:30 …

Fewer than half of small business owners plan to take a vacation this summer, according to the American Express OPEN Small Business Vacation Monitor.

Only 46 percent surveyed plan to take a vacation, down from …

Iowa Realty agent Randy Knudtson will be the president of the 2011-2012 Des Moines Leadership Network board of directors, the network announced yesterday.

Jill Boyle, assistant branch manager at Freedom Financial Bank, will be the …

The Greater Des Moines Music Coalition continues its Music University series with Developing a Band Agreement, a seminar devoted to the important documents most bands don’t have. The free session will be at 6 p.m. …

When it comes to small business success, California is the not-so-golden state — at least that’s what a recent report from Dun & Bradstreet Corp. suggests, CNNMoney.com reported.

California’s small business failure rate was 69 …

Junior Achievement (JA) of Central Iowa Inc. has received a $10,000 grant from the ING Foundation, allowing Central Iowa elementary school students to experience real-life financial lessons while attending the Richard O. Jacobson BizTown. Wells …

Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 6 percent in April from 6.1 percent the prior month, as the state’s manufacturing sector added 1,400 jobs.

The Labor Department said today that a total of 700 …

Liberty Media Corp. wants to purchase Barnes & Noble Inc. for $1.02 billion, Reuters reported.

Liberty Media, which in recent years has looked to acquire inexpensive media-related assets in the hope of turning big profits, …

High fuel prices are impeding the global economy as oil-producing countries increase supply before the summer travel season, CNNMoney.com reported.

The International Energy Agency (IEA), a Paris-based energy watchdog, said Thursday that aglobal demand for …