AFP - US economic activity appears to have slowed to a crawl in the past weeks even as price pressures intensified, the Federal Reserve said in its Beige Book report Wednesday.

AP - With the cost of everything from air conditioning to whipped cream rising, many restaurants have been raising prices. LongHorn Steakhouse is passing on part of the tab to its servers.

AP - General Motors Corp., pummeled by falling U.S. sales and high gas prices, lost the global sales lead to Toyota Motor Corp. in the first half of this year, but the churning market makes it difficult to predict which automaker will end the year on top.

AP - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson spent another day stumping for the U.S. banking system, declaring Tuesday that his top priority was ensuring "stability and confidence in our markets and financial institutions."

AP - Rising prices at the gas pump appear to be having at least one positive effect: Traffic deaths around the country are plummeting, just as they did during the Arab oil embargo three decades ago.

Reuters - Record gasoline prices are fueling a boom in sales of fuel-efficient scooters across the United States, as commuters ditch their gas-guzzlers and don helmets and goggles to beat high prices at the pump.

Reuters - Young adults are being hit harder by rising U.S. energy and food costs and a weakening economy than older Americans because they are just entering the workforce and are strapped with credit card debt, a report released on Tuesday said.

AFP - The dollar moved higher against the euro Tuesday on comments from a Federal Reserve official signalling a possible rise in US interest rates and fresh support for the US financial system from the Treasury chief.

AP - Rising prices at the gas pump appear to be having at least one positive effect: Traffic deaths around the country are plummeting, just as they did during the Arab oil embargo three decades ago.