Business digest

NATION

United raises baggage fees

MINNEAPOLIS — United Airlines joined the latest round of baggage-fee increases Wednesday. The move follows hikes by Delta and Continental.

United said it will charge $25 to check the first bag and $35 for the second. That’s $5 more than it charged previously. The new fees are the same at Continental and Delta.

GM exec doubts US will retake title as top market

DETROIT — General Motors Co.’s top China Group executive says it’s unlikely the U.S. will ever retake the title of world’s largest auto market from China.

GM China Group President Kevin Wale says China had huge auto-sales growth last year and predicted it could rise to 15.5 million vehicles in 2010.

China overtook the U.S. as the biggest market last year with an estimated 13.6 million in sales. Only 10.4 million light vehicles were sold in the U.S. last year.

Hershey plans to go it alone on bid for Cadbury

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Hershey Co. is assembling a bid to acquire British candy maker Cadbury PLC without the help of Italian candy maker Ferrero International, a person familiar with Hershey’s plans told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the company that bid first, American food giant Kraft, continued to defend its offer and issued an earnings forecast that may have been intended to show off its strength.

Associated Press