nation and world [Virginian – Pilot]

Vehicles score best at front-end safety

Seven midsize vehicles earned the top rating in a new insurance industry test of high-tech safety features designed to prevent front- end collisions.

The Cadillac ATS and SRX, Subaru Legacy and Outback, Mercedes C- Class, and Volvo S60 and XC60 won "superior" ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The institute tested 74 midsize cars and SUVs from the model years 2013 and 2014.

The IIHS, a nonprofit research group funded by insurance companies, has pushed federal regulators and automakers to require or offer as an option new safety systems.

Insurance companies say that as the systems become more popular in certain models, those models eventually will see discounted rates.

U.S. consumers spend more as incomes rise

U.S. consumers increased their spending slightly last month as their income grew at the fastest pace in six months. The figures point to only modest economic growth in the July-September quarter.

Consumers' spending on goods and services rose 0.3 percent in August, the Commerce Department said Friday. That's up from a 0.2 percent gain in July.

Income rose 0.4 percent in August, the best gain since February and up from a 0.2 percent July increase. Consumer spending drives 70 percent of economic activity.

Yet Americans grew more pessimistic this month about the economy, their own finances, and government budget policies, according to a survey of consumer confidence released Friday.

FTC inquiry targets "patent trolls"

The Federal Trade Commission voted to begin an inquiry into "patent assertion entities," businesses whose only purpose is to stockpile patent portfolios and use them to sue companies such as software designers and smartphone makers, the agency announced Friday.

The action is the first step in what is likely to be a lengthy and broad investigation, which could result in lawsuits against the companies.

The commission agreed to seek public comments on an investigation of "approximately 25 companies that are in the business of buying and asserting patents."

After reviewing public comments, the trade commission will seek to issue subpoenas to the patent assertion entities, which are also known as "patent trolls."

Gas prices expected to continue falling

Gasoline prices have fallen steadily throughout September, and drivers should look forward to even cheaper fill-ups.

The national average price for a gallon of gas is now $3.42, down from $3.59 on Sept. 1. The price is the lowest it's been at this time of year since 2010 and is likely to keep falling.

"It's a layup for me to predict lower prices until Columbus Day weekend," says Tom Kloza, Chief Oil Analyst at GasBuddy.com and Oil Price Information Service, which tracks prices.

Wholesale prices have fallen faster in recent days than pump prices, so drivers can expect to pay even less as the pump prices catch up. Even relatively high oil prices haven't stopped gasoline's decline. Oil has stayed above $100 per barrel, yet gasoline has fallen to its lowest price since Jan. 31.

quick hits

GateHouse Media Inc., which owns more than 400 community newspapers around the country, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware.

Exxon Mobil Corp. said Friday that it will begin offering benefits to legally married same-sex couples in the U.S. for the first time starting next week.</p>

Regulators are putting their harshest warning on Pfizer's antibiotic Tygacil, saying the drug is associated with an increased risk of death.

The British government said Friday that Royal Mail will be valued at up to $5.3 billion when it sells a majority stake in the 500- year-old service next month.

- From wire reports