Business briefs for July 19, 2002

Friday, July 19, 2002 | 11:08 a.m.

Public relations manager appointed

Eryn Rice has been appointed public relations manager for the business operations of the Las Vegas Sun, Las Vegas Review-Journal, their VIEW community newspapers and other publications associated with the Review-Journal.

While the editorial staffs of the Sun and Review-Journal compete with each other and produce separate newspapers, the papers' advertising, circulation and production operations are combined.

Trade deficit swells to $37.6 billion

WASHINGTON -- The United States trade deficit ballooned to a record $37.6 billion in May, reflecting Americans' ravenous appetite for foreign-made cars, TVs and clothes.

The Commerce Department reported today that the deficit was 4.1 percent higher than the revised $36.1 billion trade gap reported for April.

Many analysts were predicting a slight narrowing of the trade imbalance in May.

Separately, consumer prices edged up just 0.1 percent in June, after being flat in May, suggesting that inflation remains low and doesn't pose a risk to the economy.

Mercedes-Benz dealers probed

WASHINGTON -- DaimlerChrysler AG said the U.S. Justice Department is conducting a criminal investigation into allegations of price-fixing among Mercedes-Benz dealers.

DaimlerChysler said in a filing today with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that the investigation is connected to a class-action lawsuit previously filed against two of its Mercedes-Benz units.

The company said its subsidiaries "intend to defend themselves vigorously."