August sees lowest auto sales since ’83

August sees lowest auto sales since ’83

detroit

Americans nervous about bad economic news stayed away from auto showrooms. Automakers nervous about their bottom lines didn’t offer deals to lure them in.

It was the worst August for U.S. auto sales since 1983, when the country was at the end of a double-dip recession. General Motors, Toyota, Honda and Ford all reported declines from the month before and from a year earlier.

The bleak results were a reminder that, for all the good news about the turnaround of the Detroit automakers, the market for cars and trucks in the United States remains frail. Initial data showed sales came in at about 997,000, down 5 percent from July, according to AutoData Corp.

New Apple products

san francisco

Apple Inc. is refining its plans to annex the living room into its entertainment empire.

On Wednesday, Apple unveiled a smaller, cheaper version of Apple TV, which connects to a high-definition television and can show rented movies and TV shows from Apple’s own service, plus content from Netflix, photos on Flickr, YouTube clips and more.

The new $99 gadget marks a slight improvement over Apple’s first television set-top box, which went on sale in 2007. The original Apple TV had to sync with a computer, a concept most consumers weren’t ready for, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said at a media event Wednesday.

Jobs also unveiled social media features for its iTunes software, a new lineup of iPods including a touch-screen Nano and new software for its iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad devices.

Comair plans layoffs

cincinnati

Comair, a regional airline owned by Delta Air Lines Inc., said Wednesday that it will shrink its fleet by more than half and reduce staff over the next two years to cut costs.

Comair President John Bendoraitis told employees in a memo Wednesday that the airline, based in Erlanger, Ky., will get rid of most of its aging, less-efficient 50-seat jets and keep its bigger 65-seat and 76-seat jets.

Associated Press

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .62, 20.30 .42

Avalon Holdings,2.70—.03

Clear Channel, 1.75 58.66 .72

Cortland Bancorp, 5.000.00

Delphi Automotive, .02 0.00

Farmers Nat., .12, 3.90 0.00

First Energy, $2.20, 37.45.92

FirstMerit Corp., .64,17.85.59

First Niles Financial,6.50—.42

First Place Fin., 3.77.13

FNB Corp., .48,7.98.21

General Electric, .48,15.01.53

Motors Liquidation, .380.00

Huntington Bank, .04, 5.47.17

JP Morgan Chase, .20,37.741.38

Key Corp, .04,7.85.48

LaFarge, 12.20 .75

Macy’s, .20, 20.19.78

Parker Hannifin, 1.08, 62.203.04

PNC, .40,53.192.20

RTI Intl. Metals,29.361.76

Rural/Metro, 7.98 .52

Simon Prop. Grp.,$2.40,93.563.11

Stoneridge 9.59 .96

United Community Fin. 1.24—.02

Selected prices at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Provided by Stifel Nicolaus. Not to be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security.