When the Chrysler plant in Newark, Del., shut its doors on Dec. 19, more than 1,000 workers there suddenly joined the ranks of the unemployed. At least they will be able to get unemployment insurance. Most jobless workers can’t.

Fannie Mae, the largest provider of money for U.S. residential mortgages, on Wednesday said its regulator named nine board members, including a former Morgan Stanley executive.

Gasoline prices declined for the fourth straight day on Tuesday, falling below the $1.66 per gallon mark, according to a national survey of credit card swipes at gasoline stations. The national average fell .4 cents to $1.659 per gallon for regular unleaded, according to motorist group AAA. A recent 86-day streak of declines ended at $1.656 in mid-December when prices bumped slightly higher.

The British economy slumped the most in at least two decades during the fourth quarter and home sales dropped to the lowest since the measure began in 1978 as the recession deepened, reports by lobby groups showed.

Japan approved on Saturday an extra 4.79 trillion yen ($54 billion) budget to confront a financial crisis that has toppled banks, wrecked world growth and now played a part in the demise of Belgium’s government.

Thousands more Missourians have had their natural-gas service shut off for nonpayment this year than in previous years, another sign of a faltering economy that’s left hundreds of thousands across the state without jobs and cost some residents their homes.

Business topics