Inc. magazine has named 10 Greater Des Moines companies to its list of the 5,000 fastest-growing companies in America, based on revenue growth from 2005 through 2008. These companies are on the list: Corporate Contracts, Urbandale; Arona Corp., Des Moines; Ultimate Nursing Service of Iowa Inc., Waukee; Alliance Technologies Inc., Des Moines; Kum & Go LC, West Des Moines; LightEdge Solutions Inc., Des Moines; DES companies, Des Moines; GeoLearning Inc., West Des Moines; Hy-Vee Inc., West Des Moines; and Spindustry Interactive Inc., Des Moines. To qualify, revenue in 2005 must have been at least $200,000 and revenue in 2008 must have been at least $2 million. Click here for the complete information on these and all Iowa companies that made the list.

The Obama administration would require banks with more than $10 billion in assets to pay higher fees for federal regulation, The Washington Post reported today. The big lenders, which the administration said are more expensive to regulate because of their complexity, warned that the fees could be passed on to customers. Under the plan, the large lenders would face an increase in fees from their existing regulator and a new consumer financial protection agency. Read more.

Average weekly earnings rose by 0.4 percent from June to July as the result of a 0.3 percent increase in average weekly hours and a 0.2 percent increase in average hourly earnings, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today. For the past 12 months, real average weekly earnings have increased 3.5 percent. Before adjustment for seasonal change and inflation, average weekly earnings were $612.87 in July 2009, compared with $607.27 a year earlier. The BLS also reported that the Consumer Price Index was unchanged in July. The index has fallen 2.1 percent during the last 12 months, with decreases in energy, transportation and housing prices offsetting increases in the cost of food and other items.

Casey’s General Stores Inc. said same-store gasoline gallons sold increased 2.5 percent in July compared with July 2008. The gasoline profit margin was above the company’s fiscal 2010 goal of 11 cents per gallon. The average retail price of gasoline sold during the month was $2.35 per gallon. Same-store sales for prepared food and fountain items increased 6.9 percent and sales of grocery and other merchandise increased 4.3 percent compared with July 2008. Approximately 5 percent of the grocery and other merchandise increase was related to cigarettes, primarily due to the federal excise tax increase, the company said in a filing with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Roy Criss, marketing director for Des Moines International Airport, will be the guest speaker at the Grimes Chamber & Economic Development’s Bagels & Business event from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Aug. 20 at Maranatha Baptist Church, 877 S. 19th St., Grimes. Cost is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Reservations should be made by Aug. 18.