Economy

The days of the easy fee grab may be coming to an end. Bank of America's failed plan to impose a $5 monthly debit card fee led to a 20 percent increase in closed accounts in the last three months of 2011 and a public relations headache, which other companies may be keen to avoid. Full story...

The Wilmington of the future will look a little different than it does today. Two high-end businesses are coming, and it appears another well-known national chain wants to set up shop here. All this despite the state of the economy. Full story...

Daimler Trucks North America has announced it will hire 1,100 workers to build long-distance trucks at its NC Freightliner plant as it bulks up after the recession. Full story...

A burst of hiring in December pushed the unemployment rate to its lowest level in nearly three years, giving the economy a boost at the end of 2011. Full story...

The chief executive officer of Progress Energy is among those speaking at the Economic Forecast Forum in Research Triangle Park. Full story...

Two South Carolina legislators say state employees shouldn't have to answer the phone with Gov. Nikki Haley's mandated cheery greeting unless it's truly a great day in South Carolina. Full story...

It's quitting time for more than 100 Sears and Kmart stores across the country. Sears Holding announced Tuesday that the company would have to close the stores, fueling speculation about whether Sears, which has a 125-year history, can turn itself around and survive. Folks in Wilmington say they go out of their way to shop at Sears because of its long history. Full story...

North Carolina's unemployment rate has dipped to 10 percent, the lowest since June, as the private sector added roughly 4,600 jobs. Full story...

Finances are putting a damper on Christmas tree sales. At least, that's what some Christmas tree lots are reporting this season. Full story...

New data from the US Labor Department show signs of hope for the job market. The number of people applying for unemployment benefits nationally dropped to its lowest since 2008. But is the Cape Fear seeing a similar situation? Full story...

The state Department of Transportation is holding three public meetings this week about what role ports should play in North Carolina's economy. Full story...

Tidalwalk is a neighborhood on the Intracoastal Waterway in the southern end of New Hanover County. When the housing market crashed, its developer went bankrupt. So Tidalwak sat mostly empty. But now, there's a flurry of activity here again. Full story...

Homes across Wilmington continue to gain value according to new data released today by CoreLogic. Full story...

With the largest turnout of Black Friday shoppers this year, many storeowners are hopeful the economy is taking a turn for the better. We wanted to know this Friday how stores were doing. Full story...

The unemployment rate fell last month to its lowest level in more than two and a half years, as employers stepped up hiring in response to the slowly improving economy. Full story...