Credit Card Legislation Nearing Success

Discover makes headway in bringing eBay's online-payments service to physical retailers, but First Data, one of the country's largest merchant processors, has opted not to support the service.

So many consumers are opting to buy older iPhone models that some analysts wonder whether Apple has lost its ability to create new versions that dazzle. How strange to think that Vicki Macchiavello's decision to buy an iPhone after years of using a BlackBerry could be bad news for Apple.

Relief checks issued as part of a settlement over foreclosure abuses have bounced, an unfortunate twist for consumers who have already faced problems over reviews of troubled mortgage loans.

U. S. retailers are reporting modest sales gains for March as consumers held back due to cold weather during the month and continued worry about the economy. Overall, 14 retailers reported on Thursday that revenue at stores open at least a year — a key indicator of retail health — rose an average of 0.6 percent.

The central bank affirmed that it would keep up its existing efforts to stimulate the economy, even though it expected a return to moderate growth.