Business

Kelvin Cooperage, owned by brothers Kevin and Paul McLaughlin, is making white oak barrels for the newly-rising craft distillers. Here, oak scraps are burned inside the finished barrels to char them.

National

As Bourbon Booms, Demand For Barrels Is Overflowing

6:35pm December 29, 2014

by Noah Adams

Distillers must age bourbon in new white oak barrels that are charred inside. But the barrel supply is running low, and new, small craft distillers are having trouble getting any barrels at all.

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Startup Better Finance is offering lease-to-own programs for high-end smartphones. But some customers say that retail stores, such as MetroPCS, aren't always clear about the lease terms up front.

What You Need To Know About Subprime Lending For Smartphones

6:29pm December 29, 2014

by Aarti Shahani

A new startup focuses on offering loans for the purchase of top-of-the-line smartphones. But what seem like deals come with hefty markups.

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Online Sellers Pop Up In Real Life, For A Limited Time Only

12:13pm December 29, 2014

by Elise Hu

One-click shopping is changing the ways people shop and retailers sell their wares. But some online retailers are opening physical stores — some of which last as short as a day.

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Low Gas Prices Predicted For 2015 And Beyond

12:13pm December 29, 2014

by Jeff Brady

Prices at the pump have dipped below $2 a gallon in some parts of the country this month, with average prices more than one-third lower than this summer. Analysts say that trend is likely to continue.

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National

How 'The Interview' May Change How Big Studios Do Business

12:13pm December 29, 2014

by Ina Jaffe

Sony's release of The Interview via streaming Internet services and in theaters at the same time is unprecedented for a major studio film and raises questions about the economics of future releases.

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Looking To 2015, Economists See 5 Reasons To Celebrate

10:39am December 29, 2014

by Marilyn Geewax

Economists' forecasts for 2015 have gotten even more optimistic as oil prices have declined. Most now say inflation will remain low as hiring strengthens. That should lead to more consumer spending.

World News

Europe's Largest Zinc Mine Lies Deep Under Ireland's Countryside

9:11am December 29, 2014

by Ari Shapiro

Major industries from cars to tech couldn't function without zinc. Business is booming at the mine in Ireland — especially since China stopped exporting its supply.

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World News

How To Pitch A Hamburger In A War Zone

11:07am December 28, 2014

by Gregory Warner

Even as Ukraine remains in a military and financial crisis after the upheavals of 2014, Ukrainian business owners are trying to drum up interest from Western investors.

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Economy

Economist: This Recovery Is Broad-Based And Stable

11:05am December 28, 2014

As 2014 comes to a close, the economy is looking up. NPR's Linda Wertheimer talks to Mark Zandi of Moody's Analytics about the economic picture for 2015, and why he's feeling optimistic.

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King Kong Out To Crush Bigfoot's Claim To Fame As First Monster Truck

11:10am December 27, 2014

by Joseph Leahy

Bigfoot 4X4 is a legend in the monster truck world, but another truck is challenging its claim as first car crusher. The bragging rights are big deal in what has become a multibillion-dollar industry.

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