PC sales expected to be below forecasts

Personal-computer sales worldwide will lag forecasts by about a million units this year as concerns about oil prices and the economy curb purchases, a Gartner Inc. analyst said.

Sales of desktop and laptop PCs will rise 12.6 percent from 2003 to about 185 million units, analyst George Shiffler said. Gartner previously expected a 13.4 percent increase, to about 186 million units, he said.

Consumer spending last quarter grew at the weakest pace in three years as sales of autos and other durable goods slumped. Slack demand may prompt businesses to delay technology purchases and slow plans to replace older PCs, said Stamford, Conn. based Gartner.

Dillard's down $26M for second quarter

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Dillard's Inc. reported that its loss narrowed in the second quarter to nearly half of what it was a year ago, but it was still far more than Wall Street expected as the chain was dragged down by sluggish sales.

The department store chain said Wednesday that it lost $26 million, or 31 cents per share, for the three months ended July 31. That compared with a loss of $50.4 million, or 60 cents per share, in the year-ago period.

Shares in Dillard's closed at $21.40, down $1.68.

Chamber of commerce appoints new official

Terry Dickey has been named director of economic development at the Cincinnati USA Partnership, the economic development arm of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce. Dickey first joined the chamber in 1996 as a membership representative. In 2002, she won a National Lifetime Achievement award from the National Association of Membership Development.

Monsanto says U.S. herbicide probe over

Monsanto Co., the world's biggest developer of genetically engineered crops, said the U.S. Department of Justice took no action after ending an antitrust probe into the herbicide industry.

"This issue is now behind us," said Hugh Grant, chief executive of St. Louis-based Monsanto.

Monsanto disclosed the investigation into the glyphosate-based herbicide industry in March 2003. The company still faces disputes with Delta & Pine Land Co. on cotton-seed licensing and with retirees from Solutia, a bankrupt Monsanto spinoff, over health and insurance benefits.

Engine manufacturer expands Murray plant

MURRAY, Ky. - A small engine manufacturer in Murray has announced an expansion that will include a 65,000-square foot plant and 80 new jobs.

Milwaukee-based Briggs & Stratton Co. said Tuesday that the expansion is part of the company's long-range plan. Murray plant manager Rodney Bohannon said other expansions and acquisitions have increased the demand for small engines produced locally.

MasterCard expands deal with McDonald's

McDonald's Corp., the world's largest restaurant chain, will try to speed service in U.S. restaurants by letting customers use a MasterCard that employees never need to handle.

The service, which expands an agreement with MasterCard International Inc., uses cards with radio-frequency chips and will be offered at some metropolitan New York and Dallas restaurants this year, said Oakbrook, Ill.-based McDonald's.

Cinergy shuffles senior manager slots

Cinergy Corp. has announced a senior management realignment to implement organizational changes as part of its CIN-10 continuous improvement program.

Michael J. Cyrus, chief executive officer of the utility holding company's commercial business, will become CEO of regulated operations. R. Foster Duncan, chief financial officer, will become CEO of commercial businesses. And James L. Turner, CEO of regulated operations, will become CFO. All three remain executive vice presidents reporting to James Rogers, chairman and CEO.

Cinergy expects $50 million in operations and maintenance savings next year from CIN-10, which generated thousands of improvement ideas from employees.

Wire/staff reports