Retail and Business

More Americans than forecast filed applications for unemployment benefits last week, showing that the labor market will take time to improve, according to Bloomberg.

Jobless claims rose by 20,000 to 457,000 in the week ended …

Des Moines lost 900 private-sector jobs from September 2009 to September 2010, according to numbers released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday.

Des Moines went from 274,900 jobs to 274,000, a decrease …

U.S. companies added more workers than expected in October, slightly boosting optimism about the job market ahead of Friday’s government employment report, Reuters reported.

Private employers added 43,000 jobs in October compared with a revised …

Principal Financial Group Inc. on Monday reported earnings of $218.9 million for the third quarter, compared with $219.1 million in the third quarter of 2009.

Principal reported net income available to common stockholders of $142.2 …

Aviva plc, the London-based parent company of Aviva USA, this morning reported third-quarter worldwide revenues of £35.9 billion, ($55.3 billion), a 5 percent increase from the third quarter of 2009.

West Des Moines-based Aviva USA’s …

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index rose to 101 in September from 100.4 in August, with six out of the eight indicators contributing to the increase. The increase was the 12th consecutive monthly gain for the …

Mary Vermeer Andringa, president and CEO of Pella-based Vermeer Corp., and Suku Radia, president and CEO of Bankers Trust Co., will be inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame at the Greater Des Moines …

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is now accepting nominations for its 2011 National Small Business Week Awards.

Each year since 1963, the SBA’s Small Business Week Awards have recognized outstanding individuals from America’s small …

The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and Development Connection are continuing the process of developing a strategic plan heading into 2011.

The chamber board of directors held a meeting Sept. 17, and the Development …