The late Pierce J. Flanigan III was in the business of making things smooth, from the Baltimore Beltway to the tarmac at what is now Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Now, his survivors and one of his former companies are ...

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As national retailers announced disappointing sales numbers for December, Baltimore area retailers said Thursday they saw an increase in December sales after a dismal 2009, but for some categories, the sales weren’t as high as expected. The results raised some ...

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NEW YORK — The number of people who signed contracts to buy homes rose in November, the fourth increase since contract signings hit a low in June. The National Association of Realtors says its index of sales agreements for previously ...

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Lori Biancofiori has been looking forward to 2011 for a long time. That’s when she hopes to leave 2009 behind for good. Her husband was laid off, her salary shrunk, the transmission blew on their car and they racked up ...

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Holiday spending surged this year, but Americans still have their doubts about the economy. With unemployment high and home prices falling in the nation’s largest cities, consumer confidence took an unexpected turn for the worse in December. The decline followed ...

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HAGERSTOWN — Regular customers at the City Farmers Market know Margaret Pheil for her homemade ornaments and crafts. This time of year, she works hard to keep up with the demand for her beaded satin ball and shaped ornaments. Her ...

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NEW YORK — Even a winter storm that shut down stores along parts of the East Coast won’t be enough to blow retailers off course from their best holiday sales in three years. Retail analysts are calling the blizzard a ...

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WASHINGTON — Economic reports Thursday suggest employers are laying off fewer workers, businesses are ordering more computers and appliances, and consumers are spending more confidently. Combined, the latest data confirm that the economy is improving, even though too few jobs ...

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ANNAPOLIS — The many downtown windows plastered with public-notice signs from the city depict a Main Street in transition. American Craftworks Collection, a gallery of fine crafts, and Paradigm, a trendy clothing boutique, are set to close when their leases ...

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ANNAPOLIS — If state lawmakers follow the recommendations of a report released Tuesday, Maryland residents will soon be able to buy wine from out-of-state and have it shipped to them directly. After reviewing direct wine shipping practices and laws in ...

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