Business Highlights

By The Associated Press

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FTC study says 1 in 4 consumers had error in a credit report from major agency

WASHINGTON (AP) ⿿ One in four consumers has had an error in a credit report issued by a major agency, according to a government study released Monday.

The Federal Trade Commission reported also said that 5 percent of the consumers identified errors in their reports that could lead to them paying more for mortgages, auto loans or other financial products.

The study looked at reports for 1,001 consumers issued by the three major agencies ⿿ Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The FTC hired researchers to help consumers identify potential errors. It closely matches the results of a yearlong investigation by The Columbus Dispatch. The Ohio newspaper's report last year said that thousands of consumers were denied loans because of errors on their credit reports.

The FTC says the findings underline the importance of consumers checking their credit reports.

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Tug boats to reach disabled cruise ship Monday

HOUSTON (AP) ⿿ Passengers aboard a cruise vessel stranded in the Gulf of Mexico had limited access to bathrooms, food and hot coffee as they waited for two tugboats to arrive later today to tow them to Mexico by Wednesday, Carnival Cruise Lines said in a statement.

The Carnival Triumph has been floating aimlessly about 150 miles off the Yucatan Peninsula since a fire erupted in the aft engine room early Sunday, knocking out the ship's propulsion system. No one was injured and the fire was extinguished. The ship has been operating on backup generator power since the incident, the statement said.

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Small Business Administrator Mills leaving Obama administration

WASHINGTON (AP) ⿿ Karen Mills is leaving her post as head of the Small Business Administration, opening yet another Cabinet-rank job for President Barack Obama to fill at the start of his second term.

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