Economy

The minimum wage goes up in more than 20 states as the new year begins. President Obama wants the federal minimum to go up even more, but some affected industries say it will put a chill on hiring.

In 2014, Uber became one of the most valuable privately held companies on Earth. It expanded to more than 200 cities, but criticism and legal battles have ballooned in parallel with its revenues.

The Russian economy took a big hit in 2014. The U.S. and other countries imposed economic sanctions after Russia annexed Crimea, but it was falling oil prices that really hurt the country.

This was a big year for corporate mergers, with $3 trillion worth of deals announced worldwide. Analysts say the strong acquisitive trend is expected to continue into next year.

Markets in Greece were hit hard after the country called early elections. But this time, the problems in Greece are not spreading to markets in the rest of the eurozone.

Winston-Salem-based Salem Printing is planning to open a new facility at the South Park Business Center in Kernersville early next year.

A new startup focuses on offering loans for the purchase of top-of-the-line smartphones. But what seem like deals come with hefty markups.

Prices at the pump have dipped below $2 a gallon in some parts of the country this month, with average prices more than one-third lower than this summer. Analysts say that trend is likely to continue.