In brief: U.S. wholesale prices down in November

WASHINGTON – Falling gas and food costs pushed down overall U.S. wholesale prices last month, evidence that cheaper oil worldwide is limiting inflation.

The Labor Department says the producer price index fell 0.2 percent in November, after rising by the same amount in October. In the past 12 months, producer prices have risen just 1.4 percent, the smallest yearly increase since February.

The index measures the cost of goods and services before they reach the consumer. American consumers are already seeing lower prices at the gas pump, which has left them with more money to spend on other items.

Wholesale gas prices plunged 6.3 percent, the steepest drop in more than two years. Food prices decreased 0.2 percent, led by sharp declines in pork, fresh fruit and dairy product costs.

Chrysler expands air bag recall to more high-humidity states

DETROIT – Chrysler is bowing to demands from U.S. safety regulators and will add about 179,000 vehicles to a recall for air bags that could explode with too much force.

The latest expansion covers the Ram pickup from the 2003 to 2005 model years, as well as the 2004 and 2005 Dodge Durango, 2005 Chrysler 300 and 2005 Dodge Magnum.

It’s part of a growing problem worldwide with air bag inflators made by Japanese supplier Takata Corp.

At first, Chrysler agreed to replace passenger air bag inflators in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. But under pressure from NHTSA, the company late Thursday added more states with high humidity.

The new boundaries are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and five U.S. territories.

NHTSA demanded the expansion in a Nov. 25 letter to Chrysler.

SeaWorld layoffs follow resignation of company CEO

ORLANDO, Fla. – SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. is laying off more than 300 workers, a day after its CEO announced he’s resigning.

Spokesman Fred Jacobs said Friday that 311 workers would be laid off from the company’s Orlando headquarters and its 11 parks.

The company has 4,500 full-time workers and 7,300 part-timers.

The layoffs come a day after CEO Jim Atchison announced he is stepping down as head of the company.

Attendance at its theme parks has dropped in three of the past four quarters. SeaWorld also has been battling negative publicity related to care of its animals since the “Blackfish” documentary released last year suggested the captivity of killer whales may have led to the death of a trainer.

Unions cheer election changes spelled out in NLRB ruling

WASHINGTON – The National Labor Relations Board issued a final rule on Friday aimed at modernizing and streamlining the union election process.

The new rule will shorten the time between when an election is ordered and the election is held, eliminating a previous 25-day waiting period. And it seeks to reduce litigation that can be used to stall elections. It also will require employers to furnish union organizers with email addresses and phone numbers of workers.

The changes are a win for unions, which have long complained the process is too long. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said the NLRB’s “modest but important reforms” will help reduce delays and make it easier for workers to vote on forming a union.

But the rule, many months in the making, has generated criticism from the business community.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said the new rule will “hamstring employers facing organizing drives and give unions the upper hand.”