American households are seeing their wealth increase for the first time in nearly two years. Stock portfolios and home values have both been going up. Home construction rose in August to the highest level in nine months. And building permits were also up. Now Washington may extend the 8-thousand dollar tax credit for first-time home buyers now scheduled to expire this fall. Experts say first time buyers have been driving the housing market recovery.
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There is more trouble ahead for this country largest chain of video rental stores. Blockbuster video says it may be forced to shut down 960 of its stores by the end of next year. The company currently has more than 4,000 locations across the country. The chain blames competition from pay per view, mail and on live video services for the decline. Blockbuster has already closed 276 locations this year.
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The publishing business has a new hit on its hands. The newest book by "Davinci Code" Author Dan Brown was released this week. "The Lost Symbol" has already sold more than one million copies according to its publisher Doubleday Books . Another half million copies are already on order. This novel is the first one written by Brown since the "Davinci Code" became a smash hit. Tourism sites in Washington D.C. are expecting plenty of extra visitors this year because the new novel is set largely in that city.