Economy

Proponents of the "fair tax" movement, a push to substitute income taxes with an increase in sales taxes, will host a rally at the Boone County Fairgrounds on Saturday.

Charitable giving by Americans fell in 2008 for the first time in more than two decades, according to an annual survey released Wednesday. Religious and international affairs organizations were among the few sectors to see increased giving.

And earlier in the day, a bankruptcy judge approved Chysler's plan to terminate 789 dealer franchises.

A bankruptcy judge stripped hundreds of dealerships of their authorization to sell Chrysler cars in an order issued Tuesday as Chrysler and Fiat officials continued to wait anxiously on the companies' delayed merger.

Experts said Tuesday that allowing 10 banks to return $68 billion in bailout money shows some stability has returned to the system but cautioned that the financial crisis isn't over.

In a statement released after the vote, representatives for the Globe said they were disappointed with the outcome and had no "financially viable alternative" but to declare an impasse and impose the deeper wage cut to achieve the necessary savings.

President Obama responded to high unemployment figures and criticisms by highlighting new job growth goals and new projects that are part of the $787 billion stimulus plan. At the same time, he said he was not happy with the progress made so far and pressed his Cabinet to keep at it.

Dealers terminated by Chrysler have been busy clearing their lots. Some are in court arguing that dropping them won't save the company much money.

With high premiums and the economic downturn pushing customers away, and with many of the nation's baby boomers preparing to switch over to Medicare, the U.S. health insurance industry is looking for new ways to stay profitable.

City Manager Bill Watkins' presentation on economic development stressed the need for coordination to avoid missing opportunities to attract new jobs.

The increased possibility of being laid off has caused some workers to secure their jobs by taking on more duties and longer hours.

Some city departments could lose almost half of their managers to retirement in the next five years.

The classification of the area was changed from agricultural to light industrial in the hopes of attracting businesses to the region. While local business leaders, such as the Columbia Area Jobs Foundation, supported the measure, area residents expressed concern over the change for a variety of reasons.

House Republicans are set to oppose a $98.8 billion war-funding bill that includes money for eight cargo planes, a top priority of the Boeing Co.

J. Mike Brooks was appointed Columbia's first economic development director on Monday; the current president and chief executive of the Indiana Health Industry Forum will officially take the position on July 15.

Columbia customers and car dealers ponder the economic consequences of GM's recent file for bankruptcy, the fourth-largest in U.S. history.

The economic downturn causes couples to re-evaluate the cost of divorce. For some, this means staying under the same roof.

The state unemployment rate decreased six-tenths of a point from March to 8.1. percent, but Missouri still reported less than the usual seasonal gains expected in April.

Dubbed the "fair tax" by one legislator, the consumption tax has garnered criticism from another legislator as being "not sound."