Home heating oil in Maine down a dime in two weeks

The cost of home heating oil in Maine is down 4 cents to a statewide average of $3.66 per gallon.

The Governor’s Energy Office announced Monday that the average statewide cost has now dropped a dime a gallon in the past two weeks, but remains 7 cents per gallon higher than at the same time last year.

Prices vary per region, with the average cost in southwest areas of the state the lowest at $3.56 per gallon.

The highest average prices are in the northern parts of the state, with an average of $3.83 per gallon.

The office also noted that the price for propane in quantities used for heating is up 6 cents from last week, yet remains significantly lower than at this time last year.

Superstorm Sandy slams retail sales in Northeast

Superstorm Sandy knocked off nearly $4 billion of retail sales last week in the hard-hit mid-Atlantic and Northeast region, nearly 20 percent of the usual total, according to figures released by a retail data service.

MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse said Tuesday that the region, which accounts for about 24 percent of retail sales nationwide, typically generates $18.7 billion in sales for the week that ended Saturday. But revenue came in at about $15 billion. The figures exclude auto sales.

That dragged down the nationwide sales total for the Oct. 28-Nov. 3 period. Nationwide, retailers typically generate $78 billion in sales for that particular week, but the total ended up being about $74 billion, estimated Michael McNamara, vice president of research and analysis for SpendingPulse, which monitors all types of spending, including cash.

New York, New Jersey and Connecticut were among the states that operated below normal retail capacity. For example, New York operated at about 79 percent of retail capacity.

French government pledges $25 billion to aid businesses

The French government has promised $25 billion in tax credits to businesses as part of a “competitiveness pact” that it hopes will spark innovation and lower unemployment, but falls short of calls in a recent report for a “shock” to the economy.

The announcement of the plan Tuesday came a day after a government-commissioned report — by Louis Gallois, former head of Airbus parent EADS — said the country’s ailing economy needed a big kick to stay globally competitive.

Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the government’s plan, which includes a $640 million fund to help struggling small businesses, would put the country “back at the heart of the world economy.”

Company announces recall of child safety car seats

Britax Child Safety Inc. is recalling about 60,000 car seats because children can bite off a piece of the harness pad and choke on it.

The recall covers Boulevard 70-G3, Advocate 70-G3 and Pavilion 70-G3 models sold in the U.S. and Canada.

Britax said in a letter to the government that it has three reports of children biting off and gagging on pieces.

Britax will send new pads for free to about 3,000 people who registered seats. Other owners can call (888) 427-4829.

The seats can be used without pads until new ones arrive