Business news in brief

REGION

Valley inventors to hear about new discount card

LIBERTY — The Youngstown & Warren Inventors Association will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Liberty Township Administration Building, 1315 Church Hill-Hubbard Road. The guest speaker is Amy Murry of North Lima, creator of RingGo Deals, a type of discount card and holder that can be used by businesses and organizations. She will relate her experience in taking an idea to a marketable product. The meeting is open to the public, and there is no charge.

Gasoline prices in Ohio increase 13 cents in week

COLUMBUS — Prices at Ohio gas pumps have jumped 13 cents in the past week while oil prices were rising to their highest levels of the year. A survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express puts Ohio’s average for regular-grade gasoline at about $2.61 per gallon, up from $2.48 on Aug. 3.

Gas is still more than a dollar cheaper than it was last year at this time, when Ohio motorists were paying about $3.68 for regular, on average. The cost of crude oil rose to nearly $75 a barrel last week on hopes that the U.S. economy is improving and will help lift demand for fuel. Early in the year, oil fell as low as $32.70.

NATION

Worker notification in N.H.

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire has become at least the 17th state to enact a law requiring large companies to inform workers and the state before mass layoffs or plant closings. Gov. John Lynch signed the New Hampshire Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act into law Monday. The companies must give at least 60 days’ notice.

The new law is designed to prevent large companies from closing abruptly, leaving workers without pay and benefits due to them. Workers struggled to get help under the federal law on plant closings.

Recession continues to boost McDonald’s sales

OAK BROOK, Ill. — McDonald’s Corp. said Monday its same-store sales climbed 4.3 percent in July, as the nation’s biggest hamburger chain benefited from budget-conscious consumers during the recession. The Oak Brook, Ill., company said that U.S. same-store sales climbed 2.6 percent because of new products, including McCafe espresso-based coffee.

Compiled from staff and wire reports