Kaomi Goetz

Travelers will find gasoline prices are down considerably from last Thanksgiving. But consumer confidence is slumping too. So AAA, the auto club, says it expects to see a dip in holiday travel, compared with 2012.

It's been nearly 10 months since Superstorm Sandy hit the Northeast — and coastal communities are still trying to rebuild. Many homeowners are turning to building professionals to reduce the risk of future floods. But in doing so, architects and designers may be exposing themselves to legal risk.

The frequency of severe storms is focusing new scrutiny on whether to build in coastal, flood-prone areas. That's a question facing city leaders in Norwalk, Conn., a city on Long Island Sound. They're hoping to upgrade a public housing project using federal dollars.

A decade ago, many summer camps nationwide instituted a no-tech policy. Technology has changed since then, and social media threatens to distract kids' attention more than ever. But while kids are kept from their gadgets, behind the scenes, technology is enhancing their safety.

As lawmakers consider a sweeping immigration bill, they are taking a close look at a decades-old exchange program popular with foreigners looking for summer jobs. Critics of the J-1 visa program say it can hurt U.S. job seekers at a time when youth unemployment is at 25 percent.

The coffee giant recently partnered with the Rodarte fashion house to offer a holiday collection. It's the latest example of high-end designers teaming up with mass-market retailers to make money while showing their work to a broader audience.

With cellphones nearly ubiquitous, fewer people are relying on watches to tell time. But some retailers are doing brisk business marketing watches as fashion statements, or by appealing to shoppers' sense of novelty or nostalgia.

Many women are using online games to connect with friends and relatives whom they otherwise may not have time to socialize with. The games have tapped into a new market through mobile devices and Facebook.

Some of today's offices barely resemble their predecessors: grey, steel furniture is giving way to bright colors, soft fabrics and warm lighting. Manufacturers say the trend speaks volumes about the work force employers want to attract.