http://www.timesargus.com Pulitzer Prize Winning Vermont Newspaper Established 1794 en-us steven.pappas@timesargus.com webmaster@timesargus.com http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120226/BUSINESS03/702269941/1006/BUSINESS Consumer advice column ... Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:48:51 EST http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120226/BUSINESS03/702269901/1006/BUSINESS ALBANY, N.Y. — Steve Panetta smoked for 34 years, the last 10 at a three-pack-a-day clip. He watched his father die from lung cancer and his stepfather struggle with emphysema. He tried quitting six times before a state-funded cessation program helped him beat the habit in 2002. ... - By MICHAEL GORMLEY The Associated Press Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:54:40 EST http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120226/BUSINESS03/702269898/1006/BUSINESS Patti Tyree was afraid that cancer would steal her future. Instead, the cost of treating it has. ... - By MARILYNN MARCHIONE The Associated Press Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:54:40 EST http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120225/BUSINESS/702259997/1006/BUSINESS Volkswagen defied the gloom in Europe and cemented its status among the global leaders of the auto industry, reporting record results Friday and saying it sold more than 8 million vehicles last year for the first time in its 75-year history. ... - By DAVID JOLLY The New York Times Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:38:36 EST http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120225/BUSINESS/702259999/1006/BUSINESS WASHINGTON — Sales of new homes dipped in January but the final quarter of 2011 was stronger than first estimated. ... - By DEREK KRAVITZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:55:29 EST http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120225/BUSINESS/702259995/1006/BUSINESS ATHENS, Greece — Greece on Friday launched its official offer for a massive bond swap designed to knock $142 billion off its debt held by banks and other private investors. ... - By DEREK GATOPOULOS and NICHOLAS PAPHITIS THE Associated Press Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:54:58 EST http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120225/NEWS/702259972/1006/BUSINESS NEW YORK — The ritual of spring cleaning can bring lots of poetic benefits: spiritual renewal, charitable donations, a clutter-free lifestyle. ... - By MAE ANDERSON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:08:49 EST http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120224/BUSINESS/702249995/1006/BUSINESS BRUSSELS — Half the economies in the 17-nation eurozone are forecast to enter a recession this year, raising concerns that government austerity programs introduced to combat unsustainable debt levels are holding back growth. ... - By PAN PYLAS and GABRIELE STEINHAUSER The Associated Press Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:51:10 EST http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120224/BUSINESS/702249993/1006/BUSINESS WASHINGTON — The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage jumped after standing pat for three straight weeks at record lows. But the rate stayed below 4 percent for the 12th straight week, keeping home-buying and refinancing attractive for those who can qualify. ... - By DEREK KRAVITZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:52:26 EST http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120223/BUSINESS/702239969/1006/BUSINESS ATHENS, Greece — Greece on Wednesday insisted a new $172 billion bailout deal will “bind” it to the euro, but again lowered expectations of recovery as it faced skeptical world markets, continued protests and another downgrade of its debt deeper into junk status. ... - By NICHOLAS PAPHITIS and DEREK GATOPOULOS The Associated Press Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:47:03 EST http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120223/BUSINESS/702239975/1006/BUSINESS WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Wednesday the current business tax system is bad for business and for job-creation and argued that President Barack Obama’s plan to reduce corporate tax rates to 28 percent would make the tax system more globally competitive. ... - By JIM KUHNHENN The Associated Press Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:49:57 EST http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120222/BUSINESS03/702229929/1006/BUSINESS Court plans move to Burlington. ... - By Bruce Edwards STAFF WRITER Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:09:53 EST http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120222/BUSINESS/702229977/1006/BUSINESS ATHENS, Greece — Greeks were torn between relief and foreboding on the news Tuesday that their country has received a new massive bailout — while the aid will protect them from a calamitous default and keep them in the euro bloc, it will also cost households years of economic hardship. ... - By NICHOLAS PAPHITIS and THEODORA TONGAS The Associated Press Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:08:35 EST http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120221/BUSINESS/702219995/1006/BUSINESS BRUSSELS — Eurozone governments are expected to sign off on Monday a long-awaited rescue package for Greece, saving it from a potentially calamitous bankruptcy next month, according to senior officials. ... - By GABRIELE STEINHAUSER and SARAH DiLORENZO The Associated Press Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:20:03 EST http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120221/BUSINESS/702219987/1006/BUSINESS MADRID — Spain said Monday it will soon send hulking military transport planes to Florida to retrieve 17 tons of treasure that U.S. undersea explorers found but ultimately lost in American courts, a find experts have speculated could be the richest shipwreck treasure in history. ... - The Associated Press Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:21:50 EST