BUSINESS DIGEST || Wi-Fi at Eastwood

Wi-Fi at Eastwood

NILES

Boingo Wireless Inc. announced Thursday an agreement with the Cafaro Co. to manage and operate a retail Wi-Fi network at the Eastwood Mall Complex.

Starting in April, shopping-center guests will be able to access Boingo Wi-Fi on any Wi-Fi-enabled device, including their smartphones, tablets and laptops. Boingo’s roaming partners, such as Skype and Verizon, also will be able to access the networks.

Customers may access the system for $1.99 per session or purchase an unlimited monthlong pass for $9.95.

GM to unveil Cruze station wagon

General Motors Co. plans to unveil a new Chevrolet Cruze station wagon at the 82nd International Geneva Motor Show next month but says it will not introduce the vehicle in North America.

The station wagon is about 6 inches longer than the hatchback Cruze and 3 inches longer than the sedan model.

Only the sedan currently is sold in North America.

Jobless applications near 4-year low

WASHINGTON

The number of people seeking unemployment aid neared a four-year low last week, a positive sign that strong hiring could continue in the coming months.

The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications for unemployment benefits fell 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 358,000. That’s the second-lowest level since April 2008.

The four-week average, a less-volatile measure, fell to 366,250, the lowest since late April 2008.

When applications fall consistently below 375,000, it generally signals that hiring is strong enough to lower the unemployment rate.

2 Ford execs retiring

DETROIT

Two of the architects behind Ford’s turnaround are retiring, and their departures have intensified the guessing game over who will become the next CEO.

For now, Chief Executive Alan Mulally isn’t going anywhere. The energetic, 66-year-old Kansan is considered a hero for bringing the company back from financial disaster. He insisted Thursday that he’ll continue to lead Ford.

But the retirements of two top lieutenants — CFO Lewis Booth and Product Development Chief Derrick Kuzak — on April 1 remove two of the five inside contenders for the CEO job. Their departures have renewed water-cooler talk about who takes over for superstar Mulally.

Eurozone pushes for Greek debt account

BRUSSELS

The European Union’s economic-affairs commissioner says the eurozone is seriously considering forcing Greece to set up a separate fiscal account that would be dedicated to repay its debts as part of a new bailout.

Such an account, which could take in the new bailout money or even part of Greece’s general government revenue, would be an unprecedented intrusion into the fiscal affairs of a sovereign state.

It was proposed by Germany and France earlier this week.

Vindicator staff/wire reports