NPR Topics: Business
Sun Apr 24 04:37:26 EDT 2011
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Gas Prices Pinch, And Obama Feels The Pain - It doesn't take much prompting to get Obama started on the subject of gas prices. The president is quick to talk about the challenges American drivers face, but he's offering little in the way of short-term relief.

Does A Higher Minimum Wage Kill Jobs? - Labor advocates say raising the minimum wage stimulates consumer spending. Problem is, with the unemployment rate still at 8.8 percent, elected officials don't want to do anything that might discourage job creation.

What's Driving Gas Prices, From An Energy Insider - The average price for regular gas is now well above $4 a gallon in seven states, and some analysts say we could reach $6 a gallon in some parts of the country as the summer driving season approaches. Host Scott Simon talks with John Hofmeister, founder and CEO of the non-profit group Citizens for Affordable Energy and former CEO of Shell Oil, about viable energy policy.

Volkswagen Puts U.S. Plans Into Overdrive - The newly designed Volkswagen Beetle is the darling of this week's New York International Auto Show. The sleek, more masculine Beetle is not just a new version of an old car; it's part of a new strategy.

Obama Raises Celebrity Cash, But Trip Goes Off Script - President Obama returned from a trip to the West Coast with a few million dollars more in his re-election campaign's bank account — thanks to Hollywood glitterati and other donors. But the real world managed to intrude on the trip as well: Gas prices came up again and again.

GM Likely To Retake No. 1 Sales Spot From Toyota - General Motors is almost certain to claim the title of world's biggest automaker this year, retaking the top spot from Toyota, which has been hurt by production problems since the Japanese earthquake and still can't escape the shadow of major safety recalls.

Japanese Auto Executives Try To Put On Happy Face - There was a note of somberness and gratitude from Japanese auto executives at the New York International Auto Show on Friday. But that's about as far as they would go. When pressed about the situation in Japan, they deflected the question.

Report: Poor Safety Culture Contributed To Oil Spill - In a report released Friday, the Coast Guard also said Deepwater Horizon rig owner Transocean Ltd. had serious flaws in its safety management system and that decisions made by workers aboard the rig "may have affected the explosions or their impact."

Toyota: Production May Be Disrupted Until December - Toyota said Friday its global car production, disrupted by parts shortages from Japan's earthquake and tsunami, won't return to normal until November or December threatening its spot as the world's top-selling automaker.

Google Tweaks Algorithm To Spot 'Content Farms' - How-to content on the Internet has become popular and profitable. Google recently changed its search algorithm because it didn't like the glut of sites that show up every time you search how to do something.

Toyota's Car Production Will Be Disrupted For Months - Toyota announced Friday that its global car production won't return to normal until November or December. The Japanese automaker is still reeling from setbacks caused by last month's earthquake and tsunami. The delay could cost Toyota its spot as the world's leading automaker, and allow GM to reclaim the title.

Dutch Koch Receives Death Threat By Mistake - Charles and David Koch are the billionaire owners of an industrial conglomerate based in Wichita, Kan. They've poured millions into conservative and anti-union causes. People who don't like their politics have sent critical emails and even death threats to Dutch Koch, who says he gets mistaken for them all the time.

Constituents Question Rep. Meehan's Budget Vote - Congress left town a week ago having settled one budget fight that keeps the government funded until October. But more epic battles are in store when lawmakers get back early next month. Rep. Pat Meehan (R-PA) defended his recent votes during town hall-style meetings with constituents.

Cincinnati Zoo Goes Green With 6,400 Solar Panels - The Cincinnati Zoo is a national leader in the promotion of clean energy. Nearly four acres of solar panels will produce 20 percent of the power needed at the 60-acre facility. Through a complex arrangement of tax credits and bank financing, the zoo partnered with a developer to build and operate the $11 million system.

Hershey Raises Wholesale Prices By Nearly 10 Percent - Over the next several months, Hershey's products will cost more at the retail level. The company raised wholesale prices by nearly 10 percent this week because commodity prizes are squeezing the industry. Cocoa and sugar prices are through the roof to name a couple of the expensive ingredients that go into candy.