Business Beat for Monday, Oct. 20, 2014

Nearly half of shoppers says they’re reluctant this holiday season to return to stores that have been hacked, CreditCards.com says.

U.S. businesses were much less likely to boost pay in the third quarter than in previous months, even as hiring remained healthy.

U.S. airlines are raising base fares on many domestic flights even though they are getting a windfall from lower fuel prices.

“Any number of devices do a fine job as book readers. But if you love reading … you want a Kindle Voyage.”

U.S. safety regulators warned owners of more than 4.7 million vehicles that have been recalled for air bag problems to get them repaired immediately.

Sears is planning a rights offering that may raise up to $625 million.

The chain’s diminishing appeal among budget diners is projected to take a bite out of third-quarter earnings, Bloomberg reports.

The railway operator did not say why it ended talks, but it did note in a brief statement that regulatory concerns appear to be a major deterrent.

U.S. stocks closed with modest gains Monday after last week’s turbulence. All three main stock indexes ended higher.

Golden State Foods on Monday marked the grand opening of its new distribution center in McCook.

Build-your-own pizza chain Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza says it will open Thursday in the West Loop, its third restaurant in Chicago.

Minibar, a startup one-hour delivery system for wine, spirits and beer, has arrived in Chicago.

The combined cargo unit will have annual revenue of more than $800 million. The airlines hope to combine passenger operations next year.

Allergan Inc. shareholder Paulson & Co is urging the Botox maker to merge with specialty pharmaceutical company Shire Plc, Reuters reports.

A Danone executive says Glenview-based Mead Johnson was “absolutely not discussed” during a board meeting Oct. 17, Reuters reports.

The United States will fall to No. 2 around 2030, according to an International Air Transport Association forecast. [AirwaysNews.com]

Toyota is recalling 247,000 vehicles in high-humidity areas as an air bag problem that has plagued most of the auto industry continues to widen.

The move comes at a time when the chain is facing slowing growth and increasing competition from the likes of Safeway and Wal-Mart.

An IBM executive says handing over control to Globalfoundries will allow the semiconductor operations to grow faster.

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