Today's number: $2.5 billion

        What State Farm, Allstate and other insurers are expected to pay in claims from Tropical Storm Allison, which struck Texas in May, according to a survey by Property Claims Service.

        While retirees over 65 can work without risking their Social Security retirement benefits, more complicated income rules threaten Social Security disability benefits.

        Generally, you're allowed to earn below a certain amount each month (usually $530) while receiving disability benefits. Above that level, you'll trigger what amounts to a review process. At the end of the process, if you're earning below a certain amount, you can continue working and receiving your benefits. But if you're earning above a certain amount at that point, your benefits may eventually stop.

        Job-hunting happens by choice or necessity, but in the Internet age, opportunities are not necessarily going to be advertised, advises Barbara Sommerville in The Best Guide to Success.

        “Over 85 percent of job vacancies are not available through traditional resources like newspaper ads, civil service notices or employment agencies,” she says. “You have a better chance through networking. Answer all the ads you like, but also call at least five people each day to network for a new job.”

        Better Impressions For Printers: Three years ago, two salesmen who represented competing lines of printing equipment met at a trade show. Realizing that they already had 80 percent of the area market between them, Jim Honeycutt and Spencer Spaulding decided to form a company and work together. As GraphixOne took shape, the partners gradually began specializing in reconfiguring existing equipment. Customers in the graphic arts industry can buy this custom equipment for about half the cost of new machinery.

        Spreading Out: GraphixOne is based in Miamitown. Its original factory is in Hamilton. A second plant, designed to accommodate heavier equipment, just opened in Harrison.

        Black Ink Only: Partners Honeycutt and Spaulding anticipate sales of well over $3 million in 2001.

        Shawn D. Patton has joined H.E. Stuber Inc. as the Cincinnati regional operations manager for the professional cleaning and waste management service, headquartered in Rochester, Pa. Mr. Patton was project manager for ADS Environmental Services in Georgia. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.

Delta's pricing reflects slump
P&G bets on newer Pampers
Unilever settlement talks continue in N.Y.
Productivity rises among U.S. workers
Voila! A boat-RV show
Computers in more homes
Space, defense keys for Boeing
Business Digest
Morning Memo
Tristate Summary
What's the Buzz?