WASHINGTON (AFP) ― Wikipedia went dark, Google blotted out its logo and other popular websites planned protests on Wednesday to voice concern over legislation in the U.S. Congress intended to crack down on online piracy.Wikipedia shut down the English version of its online encyclopedia for 24 hours to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act introduced in the House of Representatives and the Senate version, the Protect IP Act.Google placed a black redaction box over the logo on its much-visited U.S. h

Industrial output rises 0.4 percent; producer  prices fall in December, but core prices increaseWASHINGTON (AP) ― U.S. factories are roaring back from the depths of the recession, cranking out more machinery, vehicles and energy.Factory production has surged 15 percent above its lows of 2 and half years ago and is helping drive the economy’s recovery.A jump in manufacturing output last month coincided with other data suggesting that the economy began 2012 with renewed vigor. Wholesale prices are

ATHENS (AFP) ― Greece launched fresh talks Wednesday with private creditors amid hopes for a deal to give the beleaguered eurozone a much-needed boost, as powerhouse Germany cut its 2012 growth forecast.“Our estimation is that we might have an agreement before the end of the week,” a finance ministry official told journalists after Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Prime Minister Lucas Papademos resumed talks with Charles Dallara, head of the Institute of International Finance and lead ne

DETROIT (AP) ― That clunker in America’s driveway has reached a record old age, but there are signs that people may be growing confident enough in the economy to get a whiff of that fresh new car scent very soon. The average age of a car or truck in the U.S. hit a record 10.8 years last year as job security and other economic worries kept many people from making big-ticket purchases such as a new car. That’s up from the old record of 10.6 years in 2010, and it and continues a trend that dates to

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) ― Airbus took in a record number of orders for new commercial aircraft last year as strong demand for its revamped single-aisle plane helped it best U.S. rival Boeing Co. in the race for orders for the fourth year running. The European jet maker said Tuesday that it took in 1,419 net new orders in 2011, worth $140 billion, well above Boeing’s total of 805 aircraft. That topped the previous record of 1,413 net orders recorded by Boeing in 2007. Airbus also delivered 534 airc

Bank forecasts global economy will expand 2.5%, developing countries will grow 5.4% this yearWASHINGTON (AP) ― A recession in Europe and weaker growth in India, Brazil and other developing countries will likely slow global economic growth, the World Bank said Tuesday.In its annual report, the bank substantially cut its forecasts for growth in both developed and poorer nations. It now projects that the global economy will expand 2.5 percent this year and 3.1 percent in 2013. That’s down from a Ju

Sales of consumer electronics from smartphones to digital cameras will exceed $1 trillion for the first time this year, driving tin consumption higher just as stockpiles of the metal slump to a 33-month low. Demand will outpace supply for a third consecutive year, with the 9,400-metric-ton shortage seen by ITRI Ltd., a St. Albans, England-based industry group, enough to make about 9 billion mobile phones. London Metal Exchange inventories fell 52 percent since August to the lowest since April 20

NEW YORK (AP) ― The nation’s largest retail trade group expects a solid 3.4 percent increase in sales this year, below last year’s 4.7 percent increase as job woes weigh on shoppers. Sales should reach $2.53 trillion in 2012, up from last year’s $2.45 trillion, boosted in part by higher prices across all goods, according to a report today from the National Retail Federation. The 3.4 percent bump would still outpace the 10-year annual average increase of almost 3.1 percent and would also mark a t

MADRID (AP) _ French President Nicolas Sarkozy has bluntly declared that a harsh downgrade by Standard & Poor's of France's formerly top-rung debt rating ``changes nothing'' for the eurozone's No. 2 economy. Nicolas Sarkozy, France's president, speaks during a news conference with Mariano Rajoy