Employers expect to pay more in health costs

LOS ANGELES More than 60 percent of employers in a new survey anticipate some increase in their health benefit costs due to the federal Affordable Care Act.

The survey of 1,203 employers by the Mercer consulting firm found that 20 percent of those businesses expect an increase of 5 percent or more.

The firm said employers in retail and hospitality will be among those most affected when the health care law takes full effect in 2014. Employers will be required to extend coverage to all employees working 30 hours or more per week or face possible penalties.

TSA trying to boost screeners’ image

WASHINGTON The Transportation Security Administration is training all airport screeners in “tactical communications” to cool confrontations with passengers without compromising security, the agency's administrator said.

The agency has trained 35,000 employees so far and training will continue in the next couple of months, John Pistole said Wednesday.

TSA, which has about 45,000 security officers, has come under increasing criticism from Congress after reports of patdowns of senior citizens, young children and celebrities spread on social media.

Androids outselling iPhone 4-1

NEW YORK Got an iPhone? You're in the minority.

There were four Android phones for every iPhone shipped in the second quarter, research firm IDC said Wednesday. The success of Samsung's Android phones helped Google's operating system extend its dominance in the smartphone market.

Samsung Electronics Co. and other phone makers shipped nearly 105 million Android smartphones in the April-June quarter, giving Android 68 percent of the worldwide market.

McD’s sees sales dip for first time in nine years

NEW YORK The Golden Arches are starting to lose some of their shine.

McDonald's Corp. says a key revenue figure came in flat in July, its worst showing in more than nine years, as diners pulled back amid a rough economy.

The last time the global sales figure dipped for McDonald's was in April of 2003.

“McDonald's may be underperforming the industry, which is not typical for them,” said Sara Senatore, a Bernstein analyst. She noted that Taco Bell is showing strength as a result of its popular new Doritos-flavored tacos, with revenue at restaurants open at least a year registering double-digit growth in the second quarter.

Burger King Worldwide Inc. and Wendy's Co. are also revamping their menus and stepping up their marketing campaigns.

From wire reports