Retail sales posted a surprising increase in February as consumers did not let major snowstorms stop them from storming the malls.

Federal regulators are pledging rigorous reviews of Comcast Corp.'s proposed purchase of NBC Universal to ensure that it would not stifle competition or harm consumers.

Canadian politicians on Thursday accused the nation's transportation agency of failing to take swift action after receiving acceleration-related complaints in Toyota vehicles three years before the company began a series of safety recalls.

U.S. exports dipped in January, the government said Thursday, but economists weren't fazed. They predict export growth will be a bright spot for American manufacturers through the rest of 2010.

Lenovo Group expects wireless Internet products to account for up to 80 percent of its sales within five years as it pursues expansion in faster-growing emerging markets, CEO Yang Yuanqing said Friday.

Les Schwab Tire Centers, one of the largest automotive businesses in the West, has agreed to pay $2 million to settle claims it refused to hire qualified women who applied for jobs changing tires.

Federal regulators are pledging a rigorous review of the proposed combination of Comcast Corp. and NBC Universal to ensure the deal does not stifle competition or harm consumers.

The Treasury Department sank billions into auto finance giant GMAC Inc. without an exit strategy or proof the company was viable - a decision that could cost taxpayers $6.3 billion, a new watchdog report says.

Federal Reserve data shows that the bulk of last year's drop in credit card debt probably came because banks had to write off loans consumers failed to pay for more than 180 days.

RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday that the number of U.S. households facing foreclosure in February grew 6 percent from the year-ago level, the smallest annual increase in four years.

The number of newly laid-off workers requesting unemployment benefits slipped last week, the latest sign the employment picture is slowly brightening.

The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly shrank in January, reflecting a big drop in imports of oil and foreign cars. American exports also fell, a potential blow to hopes that the economic recovery will be aided this year by U.S. sales abroad.

Bank of America customers will soon be unable to spend more than they have in the accounts linked to their debit cards. It's a step that may become a common move ahead of new regulations limiting overdraft fees.

Google Inc. will sell the online services of other business software makers in an effort to fill its own product gaps and persuade more companies to rely on applications piped over the Internet.