Mattel issued a statement today. No, not another toy recall. This one was an apology to the people of China. Jill Barshay reports.

Crude oil closed at $81.62 a barrel in New York today, up 35% since January. And yet, the mysteries of the refining pipeline have kept gas prices essentially flat since the beginning of summer. Jeff Tyler reports on the disconnect — and why it's not expected to last.

QVC does more than sell jewelry to you while you sit on the couch. To prove it, the company is trying something new: its first ad campaign in 21 years. Lisa Napoli has more.

When it comes to file sharing and illegal downloads, it's the big music labels that complain the loudest about being ripped off. Bob Moon reports on some ideas that might help the recording industry face the musical future.

For the first time in almost a year the Consumer Price Index dropped in August. Roll that in with the reported drop in wholesale prices and it's a nifty economic shapshot, no? But Jill Barshay reports the picture's actually not so clear.

In the year since the E. coli outbreak was traced to Salinas Valley spinach, California's salad industry has lost tens of millions of dollars. Processors have come up with new ways to protect the food supply. But some say they've gone too far. John Ryan reports.

A European court found Microsoft guilty of breaking competition law and not ensuring software compatibility. But Stephen Beard reports that the ruling might not have a major effect on the company's market dominance.

Some retailers now pay for "secret shoppers" to make sure their sales people are performing well. It's made the mystery-customer business an $800 million industry. But commentator Moira Manion, who works in retail sales, says it may not be money well spent.

While much of the retail economy is feeling the pinch of subprime, luxury spending seems only to be growing. But Steve Henn reports the high-end market could be skewing retail numbers across the board.

With the price of wheat at an all-time high, consumer groups in Italy are urging people to go on a pasta strike for one day. Reporter Megan Williams talks to Scott Jagow from Rome about whether or not this is actually possible.