THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 8, 1995 TAG: 9507080507
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
The nation's unemployment rate dipped to 5.6 percent in June in the strongest evidence yet that the economy can avoid a recession. The Dow Jones industrial average surged past the 4,700 mark, bolstered by the good economic news and the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut. Meanwhile, the United States and Japan staged a surprise move to support the dollar, trying to make sure Thursday's Fed move didn't backfire in currency markets. The Labor Department said Friday that payroll employment grew by a brisk 215,000 in June with the strongest gains recorded in construction and in services such as restaurants and recreation centers. The growth was double what analysts had been expecting. The government also revised away some of the job weakness it reported for April and May. (Associated Press) USAir lowers air fares by as much as 40 percent
USAir, the dominant carrier at Norfolk International Airport, announced on Friday reductions of up to 40 percent off normal air fares to destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Customers must buy tickets before Wednesday and fly before Sept. 14 to qualify for the fares. Tickets must be purchased at least 21 days before the flight for a stay of no more than 30 days. The reduced prices for flights from Norfolk were not immediately available. Travel agents should have the prices available today. The Norfolk airport has experienced lower passenger traffic this year in the absence of the fare wars of last year. (Staff) Bell Atlantic-Virginia won't sell customer list
Bell Atlantic-Virginia announced Thursday that it won't sell personal information about its existing customers after 1,000 people objected to the plan. Last weekend, news stories about the company's plan to sell customers' names, addresses and phone numbers surfaced, and irate customers began to complain that they would become prey to annoying telemarketers. The company hasn't sold any listings yet, but has sold lists of new residential subscribers to outside marketers since May 1994. A spokesman said customers should be aware that this decision will not have any impact on their privacy. Customer lists will continue to abound from other sources, including from those firms who copy directories. (Knight-Ridder Financial News) by CNB