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The International Air Transport Association credits "a backdrop of improved optimism for global economic prospects" for raising expectations above its previous forecast of $8.4 billion in profits for this year.

Following a nearly snow-free winter last year, the 50 million Americans who live in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic should see a snowier-than-average winter, according to a forecast released Wednesday by AccuWeather.

The best that can be said about the 2012 holiday shopping season is that it will be about average, according to the latest forecast from the National Retail Federation (NRF), a retail trade group.

Air fares are likely to stay high throughout this decade, as passenger travel grows but airline capacity shrinks, according to a government forecast issued Thursday.

Gartner lowered its forecast for 2011 personal-computer shipments. The market-research firm now expects 9.3% growth, down from a previous forecast of 10.5%, as consumer spending tightens.

An optimistic Chrysler narrowed its net loss significantly in the fourth quarter and forecast a net profit for 2011 as it continued a comeback from bankruptcy protection.

Apple Inc easily surpassed profit and revenue forecasts again but supply bottlenecks curbed iPad sales to below Wall Street's bullish targets, sending its shares more than 6 percent lower.

Retail sales in the U.S. climbed more than forecast in September, easing concern that unemployment stuck near a 26-year high will bring the recovery to a halt.

Private employers added 67,000 jobs, more than forecast, but governments shed jobs in August, the Labor Department reported.

General Electric Co called the end to its two-year slump on Friday, reporting earnings that beat Wall Street forecasts and saying profit should rise through the rest of 2010.