Tech entrepreneur Kevin Systrom is focused on photography

The gig: At 27, Kevin Systrom is chief executive of Instagram, a Silicon Valley start-up that attracted more than 5 million users...

Investing: Home Depot's returns rely on customers, efficiency

Question: I am a customer and shareholder in Home Depot Inc. Despite the economy, are there good prospects ahead?

Retail sales up slightly in June after May drop

Consumers spent more on cars and in big chain stores in June, but falling gas prices held back retail sales.

Retailers rush to offer women stylish fitness apparel

With women willing to spend $100 on a pair of cute yoga pants, retailers are racing to make workout clothes that are as much about style...

Amazon aims to have voters decide on sales-tax law

Escalating its fight to thwart a new levy on Internet purchases, Amazon.com says it will ask California voters to overturn a state law...

Amazon sales tax battle centers on jobs

A looming California electoral battle pitting powerful Internet retailer Amazon.com against the nation's largest chain stores is expected to...

Bank of America's handling of blunder is troubling

Mistakes happen. It's how a business responds to those mistakes that defines its commitment to customer service.

Health officials ease requirements for states' insurance exchanges

The Obama administration moved Monday to ease some requirements on states to help them set up new insurance exchanges in 2014, a key feature...

Interest in stock investing has fallen, Google shows

Individual investors have grown disenchanted with stocks. Want proof? Google it.

Efrem Harkham oversees a world of hotels

The gig: Efrem Harkham, 55, is the founder and chairman of Luxe Hotels, a Los Angeles company that owns two local hotels and Luxe...

Don't wait to start saving for retirement

Dear Liz: I am 25 and work part time while I finish my bachelor's degree. Most of my family thinks the amount I could contribute to a...

How to raise credit scores: Five tips

The higher your credit scores, the better shot you have of getting a loan or credit card application approved. Improving your credit...

Insurance cheaters call their luxury cars farm vehicles

Meet the newest crop of farm vehicles: Porsche Carrera, Mercedes SL550 and BMW Z4.

Hung up on sky-high pay phone rates

In this hyper-connected age of cellphones and iPads, few of us have to use pay phones anymore. But it still happens, especially when you'...

June retail sales top forecasts

Retailers beat June gloom last month, delivering surprisingly strong sales results thanks to lower gas prices, widespread discounting and...

Mortgage rates are trending higher, Freddie Mac says

Mortgage rates moved higher this week after spending a month within a hair or two of 4.5%, according to the latest survey from home loan...

Retailers post strong June sales

Colossal sales lured consumers into stores last month, but what's going to keep them shopping during the slow economic recovery is anyone'...

China raises interest rates for third time this year to tackle inflation

China raised its benchmark interest rates for the third time this year in a clear move to tackle inflation, which hit a 34-month high in...

What's behind GOP attack on product-safety database?

What is it about consumer protection that Republican lawmakers don't like? Is it that they want to see their constituents fleeced and...

Parsons sells Pasadena headquarters for $320 million

In one of the largest real estate sales since the last boom, investors have purchased the Pasadena headquarters of engineering company...