Retail
In Seattle, Amazon offers one-hour alcohol delivery
SAN FRANCISCO —
Economy
Consumers more confident, thanks to labor market gains
WASHINGTON — Consumer confidence rebounded in August to the strongest reading in seven months after falling sharply in July. The Conference Board said its index rose to 101.5, up from a revised July reading of 91.0. Board economist Lynn Franco said consumers’ more upbeat assessment was primarily due to a more favorable view of the labor market. The cutoff for responses to the survey was Aug. 13, a week before the deep plunge in stocks that began last Thursday. Those who viewed jobs as ‘‘plentiful’’ increased from 19.9 percent in July to 21.9 percent in August. Those who viewed jobs as ‘‘hard to get’’ decreased from 27.4 percent in July to 21.9 percent in August. Analysts said the jump in confidence should support stronger consumer spending. Analysts said the stock market turmoil will probably be offset by the steep decline in oil prices, which leaves consumers with more money to spend. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
Transportation
Uber, university team up on mapping
TUCSON, Ariz. — Uber is partnering with the University of Arizona to develop mapping technology as the ride-hailing company expands its research into driverless cars. The partnership includes a $25,000 grant to the university’s College of Optical Sciences. ‘‘We’ll work with some of the leading experts in lens design . . . to improve the imagery of what we capture and use it to build out mapping and our safety features,’’ said Brian McClendon, an Uber vice president. Uber will test mapping vehicles on Tucson streets. Republican Governor Doug Ducey hailed the partnership: ‘‘It’s in Arizona’s best interest to embrace new technology,’’ he said. ‘‘This is about economic growth.’’ Uber partnered with Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh in February on a driverless car research lab. In March, it bought the digital mapping firm deCarta, which provides maps for consumer products, including OnStar. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
Retail
Just Mayo maker warned by FDA that ‘mayo’ needs eggs
NEW YORK — The maker of the eggless spread Just Mayo has gotten a warning from regulators: “Mayo” needs eggs. That’s according to the Food and Drug Administration, which this month warned Hampton Creek, maker of the eggless alternative. The FDA says mayonnaise must contain eggs. ‘‘The term ‘mayo’ has long been used and understood as shorthand or slang for mayonnaise,’’ it told the company. Hampton Creek wasn’t immediately available for comment. Last year, it was sued by Unilever, maker of Hellmann’s mayonnaise. Unilever dropped its lawsuit after online backlash from Just Mayo fans. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
Aviation
Passengers get drink vouchers, lawyers get $1.65 million
NEW YORK — The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago has upheld a settlement in which Southwest Airlines passengers got free drink vouchers but lawyers who handled a class-action lawsuit against the airline got $1.65 million. Southwest includes a drink coupon when passengers buy a higher-priced Business Select ticket. In 2010, it started allowing passengers to use the coupon on that flight only. Passengers sued; the coupons had no expiration dates. Southwest settled in 2013, with two lead passengers getting $15,000 each and the lawyers getting up to $3 million. A lower court cut the legal fees to $1.65 million. Two other passengers appealed, as did the lawyers, saying they deserved $3 million. Congress passed a law in 2005 to crack down on class-action settlements in which consumers get little while lawyers get cash. Still, the appeals court ruled the Southwest settlement was fair. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
Law
Curt Schilling, others object to 38 Studios settlement
PROVIDENCE — Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling is objecting to a proposed $12.5 million settlement of a lawsuit over the state’s failed $75 million deal with his video game company, 38 Studios. Lawyers for Schilling and other executives at 38 Studios joined objections filed by First Southwest, which advised state economic development officials on the deal, and by Wells Fargo Securities. Rhode Island’s Economic Development Corporation lured 38 Studios from Massachusetts in 2010 with a $75 million loan guarantee. The company went belly up less than two years later, leaving the state to repay tens of millions of dollars. The lawsuit against Schilling and others, an attempt to recover money, alleges fraud, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty. The reasoning for the objections was not fully public. Lawyers for 38 Studios said they were prompted in part by constitutional objections. First Southwest’s reasoning was filed under seal. It would be the second settlement in the case, after a $4.4 million deal reached last year. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mergers and acquisitions
Troubled Agawam company is sold
Spectrum Analytical Inc., a bankrupt Agawam environmental services company mired in accusations of fraud, has been sold to Eurofins Scientific Inc. for $5 million, according to documents filed in US Bankruptcy Court. Spectrum sought bankruptcy protection in April after a division of Brookline Bancorp alleged it produced fraudulent documents to get credit to conduct transactions in Saudi Arabia. The bank says it is owed $8.9 million. Hanibal Tayeh, Spectrum’s former owner, is under criminal investigation, his attorneys have said. An attorney for Tayeh declined to comment on the investigation or the bankruptcy proceeding. Eurofins Scientific SE, the Belgian parent company of the winning bidder, plans to retain Spectrum’s employees. — JACK NEWSHAM
Technology
TuneIn radio app launches a premier ad-free service
LOS ANGELES — TuneIn, an app that gives users free access to thousands of live radio stations, is launching an $8-a-month premium subscription service that includes ad-free listening, audiobooks, and live play-by-play coverage of Major League Baseball and soccer from the Premier League and the Bundesliga. The offer caters to listeners with varied tastes, said CEO John Donham. ‘‘It turns out people want more than just one thing,’’ he said. The package is meant to emulate the kind of mix one gets from satellite radio giant Sirius XM: premium sports, talk shows, and commercial-free music. The offer adds 40,000 audiobooks from HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, and Scholastic to the few dozen public-domain books already in the app. Ad-free listening is initially tailored to 600 Internet radio stations. Terrestrial radio stations will be added in the next few months. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pharmaceuticals
FDA plans quick review of Duchenne therapy
The Food and Drug Administration granted priority review for Sarepta Therapeutics Inc.’s drug for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which causes muscle degeneration in boys. The FDA set an action date of Feb. 26 for its decision on the drug. Sarepta’s quest for regulatory approval has been rocky. A delay in October, when the FDA asked the Cambridge company for more data, cut Sarepta’s stock price 32 percent; in April, CEO Chris Garabedian resigned. No drugs on the market halt or reverse the disease. Sarepta and BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. have been racing to be the first to get such a drug to market. — BLOOMBERG NEWS