U.S. manufacturers cut back on production in April, as auto companies cranked out fewer cars, factories made fewer consumer goods and most other industries reduced output.

The weakness suggests economic growth may be slowing this spring.

2. US Factory Output Falls 0.4 Percent in April - Thursday, May 16, 2013

U.S. manufacturers cut back on production in April, as auto companies cranked out fewer cars, factories made fewer consumer goods and most other industries reduced output. The weakness suggests economic growth may be slowing this spring.

3. US Factory Orders Down 4 Percent in March - Monday, May 06, 2013

Orders to U.S. factories fell in March by the largest amount in seven months but a key category that signals business investment plans managed a small increase. Factory orders dropped 4 percent in March, reflecting a big plunge in the volatile category of commercial aircraft, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Orders had been up 1.9 percent in February. Orders in a category considered a proxy for business investment plans rose 0.9 percent, a modest gain but an improvement from a preliminary report last week that had shown a decline.

4. Harahan Bridge Project Plans Nearing Completion - Wednesday, May 01, 2013

Design work on the “Main to Main Connector” project is at the halfway point. And the city team overseeing the project is due to complete plans by the end of May to trigger a $15 million appropriation of federal funding in June.

5. Status of Auto Inspection Talks Varies - Thursday, April 11, 2013

The state of Tennessee is helping facilitate talks between city and county leaders about the coming deadline.

There are conflicting versions of what will happen at the end of the fiscal year. No one is certain or clear about what the federal response will be.

6. AutoZone Announces Marketing Vice President - Saturday, April 06, 2013

Albert Saltiel has joined AutoZone Inc. as senior vice president of marketing and customer satisfaction.

Saltiel comes to the Memphis-based auto parts giant from Navistar International Corp., where he was chief marketing officer.

7. Cleaner Gas Rule Would Mean Higher Price at Pump - Monday, April 01, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration's newest anti-pollution plan would ping American drivers where they wince the most: at the gas pump. That makes arguments weighing the cost against the health benefits politically potent.

8. Strong Auto Output Boosts US Factory Production - Monday, March 18, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – A strong increase in auto output boosted U.S. factory production last month, the latest sign that manufacturing is helping drive economic growth after lagging for much of 2012.

9. US Citing Security to Censor More Public Records - Tuesday, March 12, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration answered more requests from the public to see government records under the Freedom of Information Act last year but more often than ever cited legal exceptions to censor or withhold the material, according to a new analysis by The Associated Press. It frequently cited the need to protect national security and internal deliberations.

10. FedEx Headquarters Building Sells for $22.6 Million - Tuesday, March 12, 2013

942 S. Shady Grove Road Memphis, TN 38119

Sale Amount: $22.6 million

Sale Date: Feb. 21, 2013

11. FedEx Headquarters Building Sells for $22.6 Million - Wednesday, March 06, 2013

The building that houses the corporate headquarters of FedEx Corp. at 942 S. Shady Grove Road in East Memphis has sold for $22.6 million.

12. Sales Tax Hike Headed to Ballot - Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Memphis City Council members take final votes Tuesday, March 5, on a half-percent city sales tax hike referendum and the use of the estimated $47 million in revenue the tax hike will produce.

The council, which meets at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall, 125 N. Main St., is expected to pass the referendum and send it to voters this year.

13. Downshift - Wednesday, February 27, 2013

No company is completely immune to the effects of political squabbling in Washington, the stakes of which have intensified lately for the average taxpayer.

That includes even a company as seemingly unrelated to the political world as Memphis-based AutoZone Inc., the leading car parts retailer in the U.S.

14. AutoZone Blames Slower Sales on Tax Refund Delay, Winter Weather - Tuesday, February 26, 2013

No company is completely immune to the effects of political squabbling in Washington, the stakes of which have intensified lately for the average taxpayer.

That includes even a company as seemingly unrelated to the political world as Memphis-based AutoZone Inc., the leading car parts retailer in the U.S.

15. Raymond James Analyst Rates AutoZone a Strong Buy - Saturday, February 23, 2013

A Raymond James Equity Research analyst wrote in a note to clients this week he’s maintaining a strong buy rating on shares of AutoZone Inc. ahead of the Memphis-based auto parts retailer reporting quarterly earnings next week.

16. Raymond James Analyst Rates AutoZone a Strong Buy - Friday, February 22, 2013

A Raymond James Equity Research analyst wrote in a note to clients this week that he’s maintaining a strong buy rating on shares of AutoZone Inc. ahead of the Memphis-based auto parts retailer reporting its quarterly earnings next week.

17. US Factory Output Falls on Weak Auto Production - Monday, February 18, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. factories slowed production in January after two solid months of cranking out goods. The weakness mainly reflected a big drop in output at auto factories that is likely temporary.

18. Why Geithner's Treasury Leadership Proved Divisive - Friday, January 25, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama has saluted the outgoing Timothy Geithner as one of the best U.S. Treasury secretaries ever. He's surely been among the most contentious.

Not since the Great Depression had an administration inherited so many grave financial threats at once. To many, Geithner deserves credit for helping steady the banking system and helping restore investor confidence. Yet his toughest critics say Geithner's policies consistently favored big banks over ordinary struggling Americans.

19. Tennessee, Kentucky Plants Cooperate in Building Corvette - Friday, January 18, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Two General Motors plants 90 miles apart will be utilized to build the newest incarnation of the Chevrolet Corvette sports car.

The vehicle is assembled at the GM plant in Bowling Green, Ky.

20. Fed Survey: US Economy Picked Up at End of Year - Thursday, January 17, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Holiday shopping, strong auto sales and a recovering housing market helped boost the U.S. economy from the middle of November through early January, according to a Federal Reserve survey released Wednesday.

21. Holiday Sales Rose 3 Percent, Retail Group Says - Wednesday, January 16, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – Holiday sales rose 3 percent, a major retail trade organization said Tuesday well below its forecast for a 4.1 percent gain.

The figures offer the latest evidence that shoppers held back on spending amid economic uncertainty in a season that accounts for as much as 40 percent of stores' annual revenue.

22. Realty Income Corp. Buys Herbalife Facility - Tuesday, January 15, 2013

5025 Crumpler Road Memphis, TN 38141

Sale Amount: $16.6 million

23. US Trade Gap Grows to $48.7 Billion as Imports Surge - Monday, January 14, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. trade deficit expanded in November to its widest point in seven months, driven by a surge in imports that outpaced only modest growth in exports.

The Commerce Department report Friday suggests trade will drag on economic growth in the October-December quarter. A wider trade gap slows growth because it means Americans spent more on foreign products while U.S. businesses earned less in overseas sales.

24. Realty Income Corp. Buys Herbalife Facility - Wednesday, January 09, 2013

An affiliate of Escondido, Calif.-based Realty Income Corp. has paid $16.6 million for the Herbalife International of America Inc. distribution center at 5025 Crumpler Road in Hickory Hill.

25. High Cotton Brewing Kicks Off Renovations - Saturday, January 05, 2013

Plans are moving forward for High Cotton Brewing Co. LLC’s facility in Memphis’ Edge District.

26. High Cotton Brewing Kicks Off Renovations - Friday, January 04, 2013

Plans are moving forward for High Cotton Brewing Co. LLC’s facility in Memphis’ Edge District.

27. Greenline to Keep Growing in 2013 - Thursday, December 27, 2012

In the coming year, the Shelby Farms Greenline could move a bit farther west from Tillman Street, where it now ends, to the Poplar Avenue viaduct with a goal of linking up with the Broad Avenue Arts District.

28. Delta Blues Winery LLC Buys 15 Acres in Lakeland - Tuesday, December 18, 2012

6495 Stewart Road Lakeland, TN 38002
Sale Amount: $165,000

Sale Date: Dec. 10, 2012

29. Advance Auto Parts Sells for $1.1 Million - Monday, December 17, 2012

An affiliate of Escondido, Calif.-based Realty Income Corp. has paid $1.1 million for the Advance Auto Parts store at 9811 U.S. 64 in Arlington.

30. AutoZone Continues Earnings Streak - Wednesday, December 05, 2012

AutoZone Inc. reported lower-than-expected sales during its fiscal first quarter ended Nov. 17, partly the result of a warmer-than-expected winter that resulted in less of a need to replace car components because of parts wearing out.

31. Madison Automotive Wants to Brighten Holidays for Car Owners - Monday, November 26, 2012

Cars are indispensable necessities for many Memphians who don’t live close to their jobs. When they break down, the repairs often are costly and can force some tough choices to be made.

Many drivers are delaying those repairs. That’s according to Memphis-based AutoZone Inc., which says the average car on the road today is a little past the decade mark.

32. Small Business Saturday Celebrates the Little Guy - Friday, November 16, 2012

Consumers tend to have a kind of paradoxical regard for Black Friday, when hordes of shoppers swamp America’s malls, department stores and other retailers on the hunt for a bargain but dreading the chaos.

33. Counterfeit Air Bags Called ‘Extreme Safety Risk’ - Thursday, October 11, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Thousands of motorists may be driving cars and trucks installed with dangerous counterfeit bags and they should have them replaced at their own expense, the Obama administration warned Wednesday.

34. Fed: Housing Lifts Growth in Most US Regions - Thursday, October 11, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Stronger housing markets helped boost economic growth at the end of the summer in nearly every region of the United States, according to a Federal Reserve survey released Wednesday.

35. AutoZone's Olsen Set to Retire This Year - Thursday, October 04, 2012

AutoZone Inc. corporate development officer Robert Olsen is retiring later this year, the Memphis-based auto parts retailer announced Tuesday, Oct. 2.

36. Holiday Sales Seen Rising 4.1 Percent in 2012 - Wednesday, October 03, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans are expected to spend more during what's traditionally the busiest shopping season of the year, but they're not exactly ready to shop 'til they drop like they have been in the past two years.

37. AutoZone Income Rises 7.4 Percent - Thursday, September 20, 2012

Memphis-based auto parts retailer AutoZone Inc. is in a rare club among publicly traded retail companies: It’s in a position to rack up strong same-store sales and earnings per share growth regardless of the economic cycle.

38. AutoZone Fourth Quarter Net Income Rises 7.4 Percent - Wednesday, September 19, 2012

AutoZone Inc. said Wednesday its fiscal fourth-quarter net income rose 7.4 percent, helped by sales contributions from new stores.

39. Luttrell to Reassess Local Air Quality - Friday, September 07, 2012

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell is about to examine county government’s entire approach to air quality issues after the Memphis City Council voted last month to cut all city funding for vehicle inspections at the end of the current fiscal year on June 30.

40. Drop in Key US Durable Goods Orders Shows Weakness - Monday, August 27, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Signs that U.S. manufacturing is faltering emerged from a report Friday that orders for long-lasting factory goods, excluding the volatile transportation category, fell in July for the fourth time in five months.

41. Diamond Adapts to Changes in Trucking Industry - Friday, August 24, 2012

Richard Sweebe came to Memphis for International Harvester 30 years ago – when the machinery giant was a significant presence in Memphis manufacturing, something it soon would dramatically decrease.

42. AAA: 33M Americans Plan to Travel Over Labor Day Weekend - Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Americans plan to hit the road this Labor Day weekend despite rising gas prices.

Thirty-three million people will travel 50 miles or more, a 2.9 percent increase from last year, according to AAA, a federation of auto clubs that sell vacations, insurance and lobby on behalf of car owners. That’s the highest level of travel for Labor Day since the start of the recession in late 2007.

43. Moody's Boosts Outlook for AutoZone to ‘Positive’ - Thursday, July 26, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Moody's Investors Service on Wednesday boosted its outlook for AutoZone Inc. to "positive" from "stable," citing the auto parts retailer's stable finances and improving profitability.

44. Fed Survey: Growth, Hiring Slowed in Parts of US - Thursday, July 19, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy expanded modestly in June and early July, but growth and hiring slowed in several parts of the country. The key findings of the Federal Reserve survey echoed the gloomier outlook that Chairman Ben Bernanke offered to Congress this week.

45. Region Should Benefit From GreenTech Opening - Friday, July 13, 2012

When a group of American investors bought a Chinese auto company making electric vehicles and decided to move the plant to the U.S., the competition was intense for the location.

Haley Barbour, who was governor of Mississippi at the time, points out it was not as intense as the competition for the Toyota plant that the state had previously won.

46. Deutsche Bank Analyst Boosts AutoZone to "Buy" - Wednesday, June 27, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – A Deutsche Bank analyst on Tuesday raised his rating for AutoZone Inc. to "Buy" from Hold," saying that the auto parts retailer will soon get a boost from slowing new car sales and falling gas prices.

47. US Factory Orders Fell 0.6 Percent in April - Tuesday, June 05, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Companies placed fewer orders to U.S. factories for the second straight month and a key measure that tracks business investment plans fell, adding to evidence that the economy is weakening.

48. Chafetz Specializes In ‘Before-the-Fact’ Law - Thursday, May 24, 2012

Sam Chafetz, a shareholder in the Memphis office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowtiz PC, has a unique word to describe the kind of law he practices.

“If you want to boil it all down, what it comes down to is one word, and it’s a word I learned in my contracts class at the beginning of law school in 1967,” he said. “I am what is known as a ‘jurisprude.’”

49. AutoZone’s Q3 Earnings Grow 18 Pct. - Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Memphis-based AutoZone Inc., the nation’s leading auto parts retailer, opened 33 new U.S. stores during the company’s third quarter that ended earlier this month.

50. AutoZone’s Q3 Earnings Grow 18 Pct. - Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Memphis-based AutoZone Inc., the nation’s leading auto parts retailer, opened 33 new U.S. stores during the company’s third quarter that ended earlier this month.

51. US Economy Picks Up After Early Spring Slump - Thursday, May 17, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Maybe the U.S. economy's strength this winter wasn't just weather-related after all.

Home construction is near a three-year high. And factory output has risen in three of the year's first four months.

52. US Factory Output Rose in April on Stronger Autos - Thursday, May 17, 2012

U.S. factory output increased in April, helped by a gain in auto production. Busier factories have driven stronger hiring this year and helped the economy grow.

The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that factory production rose 0.6 percent in April, erasing a 0.5 percent decline in March.

53. Analysts Expect Big Quarter for AutoZone - Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Wall Street is looking for Memphis-based AutoZone Inc., the nation’s leading auto parts retailer, to report an 18 percent jump in earnings per share when the company releases details of its fiscal-year third-quarter performance next week.

54. Second Budget Vote Tops Agenda - Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Memphis City Council members take the second of three votes Tuesday, May 15, on a city budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 as well as a property tax rate for the fiscal year to come.

But the council is still weighing its options and gathering information through a budget committee that continues meeting Tuesday morning at City Hall.

55. Global Connections - Monday, May 07, 2012

Although the Memphis in May International Festival is widely known for its Beale Street Music Festival and World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, the festival’s focus on developing international economic trade and fostering Memphis companies’ global business relationships remains central to its mission.

56. US Factory Orders Fell in March by Most in 3 Years - Thursday, May 03, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Demand for U.S. factory goods dropped in March by the most in three years, driven lower by a sharp fall in volatile orders for commercial aircraft. Still, more recent data suggest the decline may be temporary.

57. Orders for Durable Goods Plunge in March - Thursday, April 26, 2012

Orders for long-lasting factory goods fell by the largest amount in three years last month, mostly because demand for commercial aircraft plummeted. But companies also ordered less machinery and other equipment, a sign manufacturing output may slow.

58. The Fast Lane - Monday, April 16, 2012

Forbes magazine recently published an article ranking the best CEOs in the country over the past year. Bill Rhodes, CEO at AutoZone Inc. since 1995, was one of the men who made that list of “best bosses.”

59. Lean Supply Chain Process Taking Root - Friday, April 06, 2012

When Toyota Motor Corp. began making its cars and moving the parts for them as well as the cars to market in a different way than its rivals in the auto industry, it changed the concept of a supply chain.

60. Auto Sales Surge in March, Led by Small Cars - Wednesday, April 04, 2012

DETROIT (AP) – Appealing small cars, low interest rates, truck deals and unseasonably warm weather helped the auto industry achieve its best monthly performance in almost four years in March.

61. US Factory Orders Up 1.3 Pct. - Wednesday, April 04, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Businesses ordered more machinery and equipment from U.S. factories in February, a signal that many are investing in their companies despite the expiration of a tax credit.

62. EEOC Accuses AutoZone of Disability Discrimination - Friday, March 30, 2012

A federal agency is accusing Memphis-based auto-parts retailer AutoZone Inc. of illegally firing an employee because of her disability.

63. EEOC Accuses AutoZone of Disability Discrimination - Thursday, March 29, 2012

MILWAUKEE (AP) – A federal agency is accusing auto-parts retailer AutoZone Inc. of illegally firing an employee because of her disability.

64. US Trade Deficit Grew to 3-Year High in January - Monday, March 12, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. trade deficit surged in January to the widest imbalance in more than three years after imports grew faster than exports.

Rising oil prices helped drive imports to a record high, as did stronger demand for foreign-made cars, computers and food products.

65. Durable Goods Orders Drop by Most in 3 Years - Wednesday, February 29, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. businesses slashed spending on machinery and equipment in January after a tax break expired, pushing orders for long-lasting manufacturing goods down by the largest amount in three years.

66. AutoZone Reports Profit Up 12.7 Percent - Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Whenever Memphis-based auto parts retailer AutoZone Inc. has reported quarterly results in recent memory, the headline hasn’t really changed much. Just the numbers do.

67. AutoZone Reports 12.7 Pct. Rise in Profit - Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Memphis-based auto parts retailer AutoZone Inc. reported net income for its second quarter ended Feb. 11 of $166.9 million, a 12.7 percent gain over the same period last year.

68. Trade Deficit Widens to $48.8 Billion in December - Monday, February 13, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Monthly U.S. exports to Europe grew in December, a hopeful sign after a steep decline the previous month. But, some economists remain concerned that the region's debt crisis will still weigh on the U.S. economy this year.

69. Rising Factory Output Gives Economy a Lift - Thursday, January 19, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. factories are roaring back from the depths of the recession, cranking out more machinery, vehicles and energy.

Factory production has surged 15 percent above its lows of 2½ years ago and is helping drive the economy's recovery.

70. Brothers Carry on Legacy At Ron Archer Auto Care - Monday, January 16, 2012

When Ron Archer Auto Care owners Brandon Archer and Luke Archer took over the family business in late 2007, the brothers made a commitment to continue doing business the way their father had for the previous 32 years.

71. Clinton Auto Parts Plant to Expand, Add 188 Jobs - Wednesday, January 11, 2012

CLINTON, Tenn. (AP) – Eagle Bend Manufacturing, Inc., is planning a $64 million expansion of its Clinton plant over the next five years. The move is expected to create 188 new jobs.

72. Spending and Incomes Show Weak November Gains - Monday, December 26, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Consumers spent at a lackluster rate in November as their incomes barely grew, suggesting that Americans may struggle to keep spending more into 2012.

Consumer spending rose just 0.1 percent in November, matching the modest October increase, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Incomes also rose 0.1 percent. That was the weakest showing since a 0.1 percent decline in August.

73. European Finan. Crisis Tops AP Picks of '11 Biz Stories - Thursday, December 22, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Europe took the financial world on a stomach-churning ride in 2011.

The rising threat of default by heavily indebted European countries spread fear across financial markets and weighed on economies worldwide. As the year came to a close, banks and investors nervously watched Europe's political and financial leaders scramble to prevent the 17-nation eurozone from breaking apart.

74. Saab Declares Bankruptcy as GM Blocks Chinese Deal - Tuesday, December 20, 2011

STOCKHOLM (AP) – After six decades of building cars renowned for their teardrop designs and quirky features, cash-strapped Saab Automobile gave up its desperate struggle for a lifeline Monday and filed for bankruptcy.

75. US Factory Output Declined Sharply in November - Friday, December 16, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. manufacturing output fell in November for the first time in seven months.

The decline was largely because factories made fewer autos. But production of home electronics, appliances and business equipment also dropped.

76. AutoZone Q1 Profit Improves 11 Pct. - Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Memphis-based auto-parts retailer AutoZone Inc. keeps riding its business model to ever-higher growth, posting an 11 percent jump in its fiscal first-quarter profit and beating Wall Street’s earnings-per-share expectation.

77. AutoZone Stays in Fast Lane With Q1 Profit - Tuesday, December 06, 2011

AutoZone Inc. posted a fiscal first quarter profit of $191.1 million Tuesday, Dec. 6, up $19 million – or 11.1 percent – over the same period last year.

78. Expectations Higher for AutoZone - Friday, December 02, 2011

Analysts are forecasting a nearly 18 percent jump in earnings per share when AutoZone Inc., the leading auto parts retailer in the nation, reports quarterly earnings next week.

79. US October Durable Goods Orders Fell 0.7 Percent - Thursday, November 24, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. business orders for long-lasting manufactured goods fell for a second straight month in October. While much of the weakness came from a big drop in demand for commercial aircraft, a key category that tracks business investment spending fell by the largest amount since January.

80. Stronger Factories, Lower Prices Lift Economy - Thursday, November 17, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. manufacturing is recovering from a slump, and inflation may be peaking.

Data issued Wednesday point to an economy growing slowly but steadily. Still, surging oil prices and a possible European recession threaten to drain the economy's momentum.

81. Consumers Hit Retail Stores to Give Economy Boost - Wednesday, November 16, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Consumers are giving a modest lift to the economy. They spent more on autos, electronics and building supplies in October to boost retail sales for the fifth straight month.

82. Companies Paid Less in October for Energy, Autos - Wednesday, November 16, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Companies paid less for gas, new cars and other goods in October to drive down wholesale prices for the first time since June. Inflation pressures are easing largely because the costs of oil and other commodities have declined.

83. Trinity Ridge Business Ctr. Sells for $7.6 Million - Tuesday, November 15, 2011

7730 Trinity Road, 7740 Trinity Road, 7750 Trinity Road, 7760 Trinity Road and 7866 Trinity Road
Cordova, TN 38018
Sale Amount: $7.6 million

84. Bartlett Auto Service Garage on U.S. 64 Sells for $1M - Monday, November 14, 2011

Dilbag Singh Dhaliwal and Kanwaljit Kaur have bought an auto service garage at 7555 U.S. 64 from Thomas M. Black for $1 million. The purchase was financed with an $867,000 loan through Regions Bank that matures in November 2016.

85. Unemployment Aid Hits 7-Month Low, Trade Gap Falls - Friday, November 11, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The outlook for American jobs and trade looked a little brighter Thursday, despite growing uncertainty overseas.

The number of people who applied for unemployment benefits last week fell to a seasonally adjusted 390,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's the fewest since April.

86. Factory Orders Rose 0.3 Percent in September - Friday, November 04, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Companies increased overall orders to U.S. factories slightly in September but demand in a key category that tracks business investment plans jumped by the largest amount in six months.

87. Businesses Ordered More Long-Lasting Goods - Wednesday, October 05, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Businesses ordered more computers, communications equipment and other big-ticket items in August, a hopeful sign for the slumping economy.

Orders for capital goods, which are considered a good measure of business investment plans, rose 0.9 percent in August, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. It was the second gain in three months.

88. Ford to Add 5,750 US Jobs as Part of New Contract - Wednesday, October 05, 2011

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) – Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday it will add 5,750 jobs and invest $4.8 billion in its U.S. factories as part of a new contract deal with the United Auto Workers union.

89. US Auto Sales Up in September on Big Trucks - Tuesday, October 04, 2011

DETROIT (AP) – Pickups and SUVs boosted U.S. autos sales in September as dealers offered promotions, gas prices fell and contractors replaced aging fleets of work trucks.

Truck sales at General Motors, Chrysler and Ford grew in the double digits, outpacing cars. The September increases built on a healthy performance in August, when new models, cheaper financing and pent-up demand lifted the industry after several disappointing months.

90. Back into the Fold - Monday, October 03, 2011

Before there was South Bluffs, there was French Fort.

Before the Hernando DeSoto Bridge was built and city zoning regulations placed more distance between commercial, industrial and residential areas, this neighborhood by the trio of older Mississippi River bridges south of Downtown survived in one of the most historic and isolated parts of the city.

91. General Motors Workers Ratify New Labor Contract - Thursday, September 29, 2011

DETROIT (AP) – Factory workers at General Motors have voted overwhelmingly to approve a new four-year contract with the company that has profit-sharing instead of pay raises for most workers and promises thousands of new jobs.

92. Businesses Boost Orders for Equipment, Machinery - Thursday, September 29, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Companies ordered more machinery, computers and communication equipment in August, a positive sign for the slumping U.S. economy.

An increase in demand for those kind of longer-lasting factory goods suggests businesses are sticking with their investment plans, despite slow growth and weak consumer spending.

93. AutoZone Breaks Sales, Profit Records - Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Memphis-based AutoZone Inc., the largest auto parts retail chain in the U.S., delivered fiscal fourth quarter results Tuesday, Sept. 20, that included some record-breaking milestones and exceeded Wall Street analyst expectations.

94. AutoZone Sales, Profits Break Records - Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Memphis-based AutoZone Inc., the largest auto parts retail chain in the U.S., delivered fiscal fourth quarter results Tuesday, Sept. 20, that included some record-breaking milestones and exceeded Wall Street analyst expectations.

95. AutoZone Caps a ‘Record-Breaking Year’ - Tuesday, September 20, 2011

AutoZone Tuesday, Sept. 20, reported quarterly results that cap what the company said is a “record-breaking” year, the same week the auto parts retailer is holding its 2012 national sales meeting here.

96. EBay Targets Mobile Users, Hoping to Seem Hip - Thursday, September 15, 2011

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) – EBay's name is synonymous with auctions, but that's created an image problem for the online marketplace.

These days, most of the things people purchase on the site aren't sold through auctions; they have fixed prices. And, the majority of items for sale are new –not musty antiques or old collectibles.

97. UAW, Automakers Continue Talks as Deadline Nears - Thursday, September 15, 2011

DETROIT (AP) – United Auto Workers negotiators say they made progress with General Motors Co. during contract talks Tuesday night, but both sides are quickly approaching a deadline to reach new deals with GM and Chrysler Group LLC.

98. Business Inventories and Sales Rose in July - Thursday, September 15, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — Businesses added to their stockpiles in July for a 19th straight month and their sales increased by the most since March.

The Commerce Department says business inventories rose 0.4 percent in July following a similar gain in June. Business sales increased 0.7 percent in July.

99. Consumer Borrowing Up for 10th Straight Month - Friday, September 09, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Americans borrowed more money in July than any other month in more than three years. But they cut back on using their credit cards.

Consumer borrowing rose nearly $12 billion in July, the Federal Reserve said Thursday. Greater demand for school and auto loans fueled the increase. A category that measures credit card use fell in July after large increases in May and June.

100. Fed Says 12 Regions Grew Modestly This Summer - Thursday, September 08, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Despite the turmoil that shook the financial markets last month, the Federal Reserve says its 12 bank regions grew modestly this summer because consumers spent more in most parts of the country.