AK Steel faces tariff in Europe

AK Steel Corp., the biggest U.S. supplier of steel for cars and trucks, faces a 20.6 percent tariff on exports to the European Union of steel used in the auto industry.

The European Commission today will impose the "anti-dumping" duty for six months after concluding AK Steel has unfairly undercut European producers.

Stainless steel accounted for about 35 percent of the Middletown-based company's $4.16 billion in sales last year, and 60 percent of its sales are to the car industry. Other U.S. exporters face a 25 percent EU anti-dumping duty.

Local job market gives mixed signs

The winter employment outlook for Greater Cincinnati is mixed, despite forecasts for faster economic growth, according to a survey released Tuesday by Manpower Inc.

The hottest job market appears to be Northern Kentucky, with 33 percent of employers saying they'll increase their work forces during the October-December quarter.

The slowest job market is Cincinnati, where just 17 percent of employers plan to add workers and 27 percent say they'll cut staff.

Elder-Beerman goes with Bon-Ton

The board of Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. said Tuesday it has agreed to sell the company for $92.8 million to The Bon-Ton Stores Inc.

The announcement follows a bidding war between York, Pa.-based Bon-Ton and Wright Holdings Inc.

Under the agreement, suburban Dayton-based Elder-Beerman would become a subsidiary of Bon-Ton, the directors said. Elder-Beerman has stores in Hamilton and Middletown.

Wire/staff reports