DesMoinesRegister.com - BUSINESS

Pain at the pump: Fill up on gas before leaving town

Thu, 24 May 2012 02:16:00 CDT

If you're driving outside of Iowa over the Memorial Day weekend, there's a good chance that filling your tank at home will save you money.

Gas map: Prices around Iowa and the U.S.

Report: Iowa's workforce isn't trained for many jobs

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:30:00 CDT

Iowa needs more workers like Carol Reed to train for fast-growing, high-paying jobs, based on a new report looking at Iowa's skilled worker shortage. Reed, 49, is training to become a nurse after she was cut as a medical transcriber late last year.

Winnebago's suitor labeled a pretender

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:03:00 CDT

North Street Capital, the private equity firm that offered to buy Winnebago Industries last week, is "not real," according to the chief of Spyker Cars, which North Street Capital tried and failed to buy in 2011.

Prices reflect soybean weakness

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:01:00 CDT

A day after a big sell-off of corn, soybeans were hit by a selling wave on the futures board Wednesday and fell about 24 cents per bushel to $12.58 for the new crop November contract.

Pork-based Spam leads Hormel to record profit

Wed, 23 May 2012 14:40:00 CDT

Hormel said it achieved the profits despite narrowed margins for its pork business. The company credited strong performances by its Jenni-O turkey and Spam brands.

Rough night for soybean prices

Wed, 23 May 2012 09:39:00 CDT

Soybeans prices were hurt overnight with reports that China has cancelled some purchases.

Will Iowans ante up for renovated casino?

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:16:00 CDT

Gone is Mr. Terrible, the iconic 132-foot-tall electronic cowboy who stood for years here along Interstate Highway 35, beckoning gamblers to Terrible's Lakeside Casino. Unfortunately, the mascot's moniker too aptly described the status of business inside.

35 photos: Lakeside Casino Osceola

Corn prices drop after forecast for rain this week

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:07:00 CDT

Corn traders made uneasy by reports of a good start to a possibly surplus-building corn crop were further nonplussed by forecasts of rain later this week in Iowa. Corn prices fell 24 cents to $5.22 per bushel for the December contract.

7 Iowa companies receive state grants, loans

Tue, 22 May 2012 23:47:00 CDT

A marketing company that specializes in biobased companies, a maker of healthful snacks and a company hoping to improve chemotherapy safety were among seven startups to receive money from the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

Economic development leaders say they likely will ask for more funding

Tue, 22 May 2012 23:44:00 CDT

Lawmakers have barely unpacked, and state economic development leaders already say they likely will seek a supplemental appropriation. 'Direct financial assistance of $15 million � will not get the job done,' said Debi Durham, the state's economic develop

Manhood at �steak' when it comes to men and red meat

Tue, 22 May 2012 12:04:00 CDT

We already suspected this, but some scientific research has come up with the conclusion that men associate red meat with masculinity, a viewpoint which makes them reluctant vegetarians.

Are some Des Moines-area business locations jinxed?

Tue, 22 May 2012 06:00:00 CDT

Chelsie Lyons is seven months past the jinx she says hangs over the building where she operates Players Sports Bar & Grill.

Station branches out with natural gas

Tue, 22 May 2012 00:08:00 CDT

Christian Maher of Ankeny was more than pleased with the first Iowa fill-up of his Chevrolet Silverado pickup Monday at Krueger's BP on Iowa Highway 141 just north of Interstate Highway 80.

People on the Move: Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Tue, 22 May 2012 00:06:00 CDT

Landmark Engineering Group has hired Bobbi Erdmann as director of marketing and Les Moryl as survey manager.

BitMethod unveils point-of-sale application

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:59:00 CDT

Customers may notice something new at Mars Cafe in Des Moines: an iPad-based point-of-sale application that aims to make ringing up sales at businesses more efficient than a traditional cash register.

Biz Buzz: Fares dip before Southwest Airlines arrives in Des Moines

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:47:00 CDT

Des Moines may already be seeing indications of the Southwest effect, says airport director Don Smithey. Southwest Airlines lands in Des Moines Sept.30, when it begins flights to Chicago's Midway Airport. Southwest purchased AirTran last year.

Greater Des Moines Partnership starts site to help develop businesses

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:06:00 CDT

Small businesses and entrepreneurs in central Iowa and across the state will have access to new online sites that can help them develop an idea, build a business plan, expand their market, or find financing.

Early corn ratings are very positive

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:06:00 CDT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's first rating on the 2012 Iowa corn crop shows the newly planted corn 60 percent good condition and 21 percent excellent.

USDA: 81 percent of Iowa corn good to excellent

Mon, 21 May 2012 15:56:00 CDT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's first rating on the 2012 Iowa corn crop shows the newly-planted corn 60 percent good condition and 21 percent excellent.

Southwest Airlines already having impact, D.M. airport director says

Mon, 21 May 2012 11:44:00 CDT

Airport execs say other airlines are preparing for the new competition by lowering prices in some instances. POLL: Does a drop in ticket prices make you more likely to fly out of DSM?