Reuters - As though Southern California's fine weather and beaches weren't attractive enough, a San Diego developer desperate to clear inventory is offering potential home buyers a buy-one-get-one-free scheme.

AP - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has moved inflation up on his list of worries, suggesting more pointedly than ever that the time for cutting interest rates is over in view of soaring oil and commodity prices and a weakened dollar.

AFP - The dollar extended its gains against the yen in Asian trade on Wednesday after Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said a weaker greenback was adding to US inflation pressures, dealers said.

AFP - Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has signaled that the US central bank is worried about the dollar, saying the sagging currency has led to "unwelcome" inflation pressures.

AP - Orders for manufactured goods posted a surprisingly strong increase in April as demand rose across a number of industries.

AFP - Oil prices fell sharply on Tuesday in reaction to a solid strengthening in the dollar following comments from US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke.

Reuters - U.S. retailers are expected to post lackluster May sales this week, as consumers spent tax rebate checks on gas and food or used them to reduce debt, rather than buying discretionary items like clothes and jewelry.

AFP - Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, in unusually sharp comments on foreign exchange, said Tuesday the central bank is "attentive" to the sagging dollar because of its potential impact on inflation.

Reuters - New orders at U.S. factories rose unexpectedly in April, reflecting a surge in prices for food and petroleum that cut into demand for costlier items like cars and aircraft, government data showed on Tuesday.

AP - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke signaled Tuesday that further interest rate cuts are unlikely because of concerns about inflation. High oil prices are a double-edged sword that can both put a damper on already weak growth and spread inflation, he said.

AP - Wall Street fell sharply for a second straight day Tuesday as investors grew more worried that the financial sector is still suffering badly from the credit crisis. The Dow Jones industrials, up modestly in earlier trading, fell more than 140 points.