Construction of new homes edged up slightly in September, helped by a rebound in single-family construction. But applications for building permits fell by the largest amount in five months, a worrisome sign for future housing work. The Commerce Department said Tuesday that construction of new homes and apartments rose 0.5 percent in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 590,000 units. That was a weaker showing than the 610,000 economists had expected. New applications ...

CEO William J. DeLaney at food distributor Sysco Corp. saw his total compensation dip 4 percent during the most recent fiscal year, even as he was promoted to the company's top post this spring, according to an Associated Press analysis of a regulatory filing. The 53-year-old, who succeeded Richard J. Schnieders in April, received compensation valued by the AP at $3.2 million in the company's 2009 fiscal year, which ended in June. That ...

Inflation at the wholesale level shot up at double the expected rate in August as gasoline prices soared by the largest amount in a decade. The increase wasn't seen as a signal that inflation was in danger of becoming a problem, however, given the economy's continued weakness. The Labor Department said Tuesday that wholesale prices rose by 1.7 percent in August, sharply higher than the 0.8 percent rise economists had ...

Health care products and services company Cardinal Health Inc. said Friday that $1.26 billion in debt was tendered in response to the company's offer last month. Cardinal Health will choose which debt it will buy based on pre-assigned priority levels. The company said last month it would make an offer for $1.2 billion in notes and debentures due between 2011 and 2016. The bid is being paid for with the $1.4 ...