BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan — U.S. forces will now utilize commercial Afghan banking services, which will bolster Afghanistan's economy by putting approximately $100 million worth of monthly business transactions into private banks' hands.

Moog Inc.'s third-quarter profits jumped by 22 percent, topping analyst expectations, as the Elma motion-control equipment maker's industrial products and components businesses generated strong earnings despite a slowing economy.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The economy in nine Midwestern and Plains states is near recession because of flooding in Iowa and Missouri and weakness in Kansas and Nebraska, a new survey of business leaders says.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Monday said conditions in mortgage markets remain strained, posing a threat to the economy, and urged steps be taken to prevent home foreclosure where possible.

When the going gets tough, the tough go abroad. That's the strategy adopted by Ramsey-based executive search firm ZRG Inc., and so far it's taken the company to Toronto, Shanghai and South America as business at home shrinks.