AP National Business

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans sharply boosted their spending last month, pushing up retail sales and giving the economy a lift. Much of the gain reflected the fact that shoppers are also paying higher prices. Retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 1.7% in October from September, the U.S. Commerce Department

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart topped almost all expectations in the third quarter, an encouraging sign for the upcoming holiday shopping season already beset by snarled supply chains and rising costs. The Bentonville, Arkansas, company also raised its full-year earnings guidance and shares rose before the opening bell Tuesday.

By LAUREN SCHWAHN of NerdWallet It’s a critical year to shop small for the holidays, as businesses continue dealing with the fallout of pandemic restrictions, inflation and global supply chain disruptions. Small Business Saturday is Nov. 27, nestled between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Ahead of the shopping day, we talked to small-business, supply-chain and

By MARIA CHENG AP Medical Writer LONDON (AP) — Drugmaker Pfizer Inc. has signed a deal with a U.N.-backed group to allow other manufacturers to make its experimental COVID-19 pill. The move could help make the treatment available to more than half of the world’s population. In a statement on Tuesday, Pfizer said it would

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer Home Depot’s sales continued to climb through third quarter with the U.S. housing market red hot. The Atlanta company reported Tuesday that sales rose 9.8% to $36.82 billion, exceeding the $34.97 billion that Wall Street had expected. Sales at stores open at least a year, a key gauge of

By PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Analysts say the Bank of England is one step closer to raising interest rates next month after official figures showed that the end of the British government’s salary support program for workers during the coronavirus pandemic has not yet led to the feared increase in unemployment. The

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer Home Depot’s sales were still climbing in the third quarter, as demand for its home improvements products continues. Revenue rose 9.8% to $36.82 billion. Analysts polled by Zacks Investment Research forecast $34.97 billion. Sales at stores open at least a year, a key gauge of a retailer’s health, increased

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s network regulator says it’s suspended its procedure to certify the operator of a new pipeline that would bring Russian gas to the country under the Baltic Sea. Construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was completed earlier this year, but it’s not yet operating. Both Ukraine and the United States have

By ZEN SOO Associated Press HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong customs say officers seized about 2,000 pounds each of live lobster and sea cucumbers believed to be bound for mainland China, months after Beijing restricted imports of lobsters from Australia as tensions escalated between the two countries. Hong Kong Customs seized 890 kilograms of

By DEREK GATOPOULOS and THANASSIS STAVRAKIS Associated Press ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Associations representing restaurants and catering businesses in Greece are holding strikes and protests across the country while demanding renewed financial relief from the government due to the effects of the surging coronavirus pandemic. Normally busy restaurants, coffee shops and traditional tavernas in Athens

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets are mixed after President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping held a summit meeting by video link. Tokyo, Hong Kong and Frankfurt advanced. Shanghai declined, while London and Wall Street futures were little-changed. Biden told Xi their goal should be to ensure competition

By MEHMET GUZEL and SUZAN FRASER Associated Press ISTANBUL (AP) — Many people in Turkey are facing increased hardship as prices of food and other goods have soared. While rising consumer prices are affecting countries worldwide as they bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic, economists say Turkey’s eye-popping inflation has been exacerbated by economic mismanagement,

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets are higher after President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping held a summit meeting by video link. Market benchmarks in Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong advanced. Sydney fell. Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index lost less than 0.1% as makers of household goods

By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s central bank governor says the nation’s benchmark interest rate could remain at a record low until 2024 despite pandemic-induced inflation. Philip Lowe told a Sydney forum of economists the Reserve Bank of Australia board does not plan to lift the cash rate until inflation settles

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets are higher as President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping hold a summit meeting by video link. Market benchmarks in Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong advanced. Sydney fell. Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index lost less than 0.1% as makers of household goods

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s largest public employee pension fund has sued Facebook, alleging that it broke federal securities law by purposely misleading the public about its product’s negative effect on children. The lawsuit by the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System also says Facebook also knew that its platform facilitated dissention, illegal activity, and violent

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex will delay fining shipping companies that let cargo containers stack up at terminals. The Southern California News Group reports the reprieve comes because of early compliance by companies in clearing cargo since the penalties were approved last month. The fines were set to begin Monday

By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett’s company made two new investments during the third quarter while trimming its holdings in several drugmakers and financial firms. Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway revealed new stakes Monday in Royalty Pharma, which invests in drug development, and specialty flooring retailer Floor & Decor. Besides

CAMBRIDGE, Md. (AP) — Maryland officials say an Eastern Shore mayor has been charged with distributing revenge porn. The Office of the State Prosecutor says 32-year-old Cambridge mayor Andrew Bradshaw is accused of posting nude photos of a woman he was no longer in a romantic relationship with using multiple Reddit accounts he created. Bradshaw

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida-based U.S. Navy flight officer has been convicted of buying guns for a Chinese businessman who was later convicted of export crimes. Authorities say 36-year-old Lt. Fan Yang also lied about his relationship with the businessman on security forms. Yang was found guilty of several charges Friday in Jacksonville federal