Retail sales show surprising gain in February WASHINGTON (AP) — Retail sales posted a surprising increase in February as consumers refused to let snowstorms stop them from stepping up purchases for everything from clothes to appliances. The improvement provided hope that the recovery from the Great Recession is gaining momentum. Some economists cautioned that spending increases will remain modest as long ...

An Associated Press calculation finds that steel maker Nucor Corp. paid its CEO fell 43 percent last year as it eliminated cash bonuses for executives to help it weather the recession. Chairman, President and CEO Daniel R. DiMicco received 2009 compensation worth $2.88 million. In ...

Kimberly-Clark Corp. CEO Thomas J. Falk's compensation edged up 1 percent last year to nearly $9 million as the maker of Huggies diapers and Kleenex tissues improved its profit due to price hikes, according to an Associated Press analysis of regulatory filings. Falk ...