In brief: Foreclosure notices up again in March

New data from foreclosure listing service RealtyTrac Inc. show that the number of U.S. homes receiving first-time foreclosure notices rose 7 percent in March from the previous month. That’s the third consecutive monthly increase this year.

The pickup in homes entering the foreclosure process sets the stage for a surge in foreclosed-upon homes this year. Foreclosures slowed last year while lenders sorted out claims that they processed foreclosures without verifying documents.

Overall, homes receiving a default notice, scheduled for auction or repossessed by banks sank last month to the lowest level since July 2007.

PC shipments beat expectations

The number of personal computers shipped worldwide rose more than expected in the first quarter, but the bump did little to mask the larger challenges for the industry.

Gartner Inc. said Wednesday that there were 89 million PCs shipped in the first three months of the year, an increase of 1.9 percent from a year earlier. That’s above the research firm’s earlier expectations of 1.2 percent.

Another research group, IDC, also announced Wednesday that shipments were up 2.3 percent, above its expectations of a 0.9 percent decline.

Personal computers have taken a backseat to tablet computers such as the iPad in the U.S. and other industrialized nations. But Gartner found that PCs also are falling short of expectations in other markets worldwide, including China and India, where computer ownership is low.

Natural gas below $2; first time since 2002

NEW YORK – The price of natural gas has dropped below $2 for the first time in more than a decade.

A mild winter and production boom have left the U.S. with more natural gas than Americans can consume. Storage facilities are quickly filling up. The glut has pushed down the futures price of gas 59 percent since it peaked at $4.85 last summer.

On Wednesday, the futures price passed a milestone. Gas dipped below $2 to end the day at $1.984 per 1,000 cubic feet. The last time it went below $2 was Jan. 28, 2002, when it hit $1.91.

Cheaper gas has already lowered heating bills this winter, and air conditioning costs are expected to fall this summer because many utilities generate electricity with natural gas. Major American manufacturers – including chemical companies, fertilizer plants, aluminum and steelmakers – also should benefit as energy costs tumble.

Supplies of gas are high because improved drilling techniques have allowed companies to produce more from vast, gas-rich layers of underground rock. Homeowners also have been using less natural gas for heating, thanks to a mild winter.

Google Plus getting makeover this week

Google is tweaking its social network, Google Plus, to make it easier to use and to distinguish it from rival Facebook. Google Plus users will see them this week.

There’s a new navigation ribbon on the left side of the Google Plus page with icons for the most used features, such as games, photos and your personal profile. You can reorder the features and hide the ones you don’t use often.

The changes are designed to help Google Plus adapt more easily to growth – and to make room for new features.