Times Leader

Wednesday, September 08, 2004 Page: 1C

Economic breakfast set

The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, in conjunction
with the Greater Scranton, Pittston, Nanticoke, Hazleton and Carbondale
chambers will have the 2004 Regional Economic Outlook Breakfast at 7:45 a.m.
on Tuesday at Victoria Inns & Suites in Pittston.
Sponsored by PNC Bank, the breakfast will offer a glimpse of trends in the
local, state and national economy. This year’s keynote speaker is Stuart G.
Hoffman, senior vice president and chief economist for the PNC Financial
Services Group.

Cost is $25 per person, which includes a buffet breakfast. To register,
contact Jennifer Paolucci at the Wilkes-Barre chamber at (570) 823-2101 or
register and pay online at www.wilkes-barre.org/calendar.





Oil prices continue drop



Oil prices fell Tuesday as OPEC’s president said supplies were growing
faster than demand and traders breathed easier knowing that petroleum
production in the Gulf of Mexico did not suffer as a result of Hurricane
Frances.

“There’s no news to keep prices from falling,” said Ed Silliere, vice
president of risk management at Energy Merchant in New York, noting that the
market has even shrugged off recent pipeline sabotage in Iraq.

Light crude for October delivery dropped 68 cents to settle at $43.31 per
barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

With only a thin margin of spare output capacity worldwide, energy markets
have been jittery all summer due to the possibility of output disruptions in
Iraq, Russia and Venezuela.

But with the exception of sporadic export troubles out of Iraq, the global
supply chain has remained intact.



Vitamins easier to swallow



Hershey Foods Corp. is introducing a new chocolate syrup fortified with
vitamins and nutrients.

Hershey’s Fortified Syrup provides 10 percent of the recommended daily
intake of five essential vitamins and minerals: calcium, vitamin E, biotin,
vitamin B5 and zinc, the company said.

Hershey says the product is geared toward helping finicky eaters find
another way to get their needed nutrients.

“Children can be picky when it comes to eating nutritiously and that’s why
this new product will come in handy for moms,” said Matt Podhajsky, Hershey’s
associate marketing manager.

From staff and wire reports



WALL STREET

Oil news propel stocks



Investors cheered by falling oil prices and an improving job picture sent
stocks higher Tuesday, hoping that the news signals a renewal of economic
strength and a fall rally in stocks.

Oil prices dropped below the $43 per barrel mark before rising slightly to
end the session, giving credence to investors’ belief that the summer’s run on
oil prices was at an end. A barrel of light crude settled at $43.31, down 68
cents, on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Wall Street also moved higher on Friday’s jobs report, which was overlooked
in last week’s very light trading and overshadowed by Intel Corp.’s
disappointing mid-quarter report. The Labor Department reported a 0.1
percentage point drop in the unemployment rate and the creation of 144,000 new
jobs.

PRICE TO PUMP



AAA, the national auto club, reported the following average price in the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton area for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline.

Yesterday $1.836

Two days ago 1.846

A month ago 1.877

A year ago 1.691

Record high 2.027 (5/29/04)

: www.fuelgaugereport.com