LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Arkansas Business) -- The market was actually up before news hit amid afternoon trading of political gridlock in Italy.
Stalled economic reforms in that region's already fragile economy giving investors reason to pause.
Dillard's reporting another sales increase
Here in Arkansas, department store chain Dillard's Inc. reporting its 10th consecutive same-store sales increase in quarterly earnings.
The retailer is reporting fourth-quarter net income of $161.4 million; up 14 percent from the same time last year.
Dillard's also saying it had strong sales and a firm control of expenses to thank for its quarterly success.
Gas prices up again in Arkansas
Well, once again, gas prices in Arkansas shooting up dramatically in the last few weeks.
The American Automobile Association says the average gallon of gas costs $3.63, up 46 cents from a month ago.
Last February, the price for a gallon of regular unleaded was $3.52.
Arkansas is still well below the national average of $3.77.
Wyoming has the lowest average, $3.23, while California has the highest, at $4.23 per gallon.
Ark. therapy company growing
Also yesterday, a local therapy company specializing in child development has grown larger with an acquisition.
Pediatrics Plus is the new owner of central Arkansas' Learning RX franchise.
Beginning next week, all Learning RX employees will move under the umbrella of Pediatrics Plus, which has more than 100 employees total working at a new $7 million, 31,000 square-foot facility on Aldersgate Road in Little Rock.
Arkansas home sales a mixed picture
And finally, home sales in Arkansas kind of a mixed picture in the last two months of 2012, according to the Arkansas Realtors Association.
The associated said sales rose by more than 6 percent in November compared with November 2011.
Sales also fell by a bit more than 6 percent in December compared with the year-earlier level.
In December, the average price of homes rose by almost 9 percent compared with the previous year, hitting more than $161,000.