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The article discusses flash memory chip manufacturing companies, their future in the U.S. and their domination in chip sales globally. Challenges faced by the industry include high manufacturing costs compelling outsourcing production and competition from foreign manufacturers like China and South Korea. The industry looks ahead to corporate tax cuts and federal funding on research and development. It mentions technology companies Intel and Micron which jointly operate the IM Flash chip plant.

Focuses on a report by the U.S. government that the economy braked sharply in the first three months of 2005, expanding at its slowest pace in two years as rising energy prices spurred increased inflation and dragged down spending by businesses and consumers. Highlights of the Commerce Department's report; Reactions of investors to the unexpected sluggishness; Views of economists; Slowdown of activity across most of the economy; Impact of the rise in the cost of oil on prices of other goods throughout the economy; Consumer spending; Business investment; Outlook for a turnaround; Reasons for caution.

The article reports that several media companies are planning to control their content production cost through online advertising. The media companies are facing problem of fragmentation in which the giant pie of audience shift to the niche publications. The media companies are using behavioral targeting to track the websites people visit to deliver them more relevant advertisements.

Reports on the plan of Clorox Co. to increase the prices of almost half of its products in January 2006 to cope up with the soaring energy costs after the Hurricane Katrina in the U.S.

Reports that companies are experimenting with using less petroleum as a fuel and ingredient in their factories. Example of Goodyear experimenting with solar factory walls to cut back on heat generated by oil and natural gas furnaces; Potential for the absence of petroleum as an ingredient in the adhesive on 3M's Scotch tape and bandages; Attempt to offset the sharp increases in the prices of oil and natural gas; Reasons why the prices of manufactured goods have not risen in response to oil prices.

Reveals the US State Department figures on the inflation and other pricing trends for the period ending March 1995. Details of producer prices indices.

Discusses the products owned and offered by Asians that are being priced to sell in the United States. Cost of One Waterfront Towers in Honolulu, Hawaii; Information on the costs of Hawaiian housing; Cost of the 1999 Elantra from Hyundai Motor; Asian tourism; Signs that Asia's financial crisis has spread to other regions; Air fares and tours to Asia and Australia; Implications of these scenarios to the American consumer.