[naviga:h3]Toyota makes more recalls for airbags[/naviga:h3]

TOKYO — Toyota says it is recalling another 543,000 vehicles in the U.S. for defective front passenger air bag inflators made by Japan’s Takata Corp.

Takata is at the center of a massive recall of inflators that can explode in a crash, spewing metal shrapnel inside the vehicles.

Toyota said Friday that the recall includes various models of sedans and SUVs made between 2006-2012. Among those recalled are the 2008-2009 Scion xB; 2009 and 2012 Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2007-2009 and 2012 Toyota Yaris, 2012 4Runner and Sienna and various versions of Lexus made between 2006-2012.

Takata uses the chemical ammonium nitrate to cause a small explosion designed to inflate the air bags in a crash. At least 16 people have been killed worldwide and about 180 have been injured.

More than 100 million vehicles involving 17 automakers have been recalled worldwide, including 69 million in the U.S. alone, underscoring the scale of the crisis. Because of the scope of the recalls, the replacements are going to take years.

[naviga:h3]Retail sales rise during December[/naviga:h3]

WASHINGTON — Americans stepped up their auto buying and holiday shopping in December, reflecting a boost in confidence after the election and a solid increase in hourly pay.

The Commerce Department said retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6 percent, following a small 0.2 percent gain in November. Auto sales jumped 2.4 percent in December, the biggest gain since April. Gas station sales rose 2 percent, largely because of higher prices. Excluding autos and gas, retail sales overall were flat.

Still, online retailers in particular reported better sales. Consumer confidence has soared after the election, reaching the highest levels in nearly a decade. Americans’ paychecks are also getting fatter: Average hourly pay rose 2.9 percent in December from a year earlier.

[naviga:h3]Yuengling expands sales into Indiana[/naviga:h3]

POTTSVILLE — America’s oldest brewery will soon be selling its beer in the state of Indiana.

D. G. Yuengling and Son says it has reached agreements with three wholesalers in that state. The brewery, based in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pa., has been in business since 1829.

Three wholesalers will sell Yuengling in Indiana: Monarch Beverage, Five Start Distributing and Indiana Beverage.

The companies will begin by distributing Yuengling Traditional Lager, Light Lager and Black & Tan in March. After that, Yuengling will gradually phase in the sale of its seasonal and heritage brands.

Indiana will be the 20th state where the brewery’s beers are sold.

[naviga:h3]Wells Fargo profit falls after scandal[/naviga:h3]

Wells Fargo said Friday its profit fell 5 percent in the first full quarter after regulators said that bank employees opened millions of customer accounts fraudulently to meet sales goals. The scandal has kept new customers away, with the bank reporting that new account openings plummeted last month from the year before.

In September, regulators fined the San Francisco-based bank $185 million for opening more than two million unauthorized accounts. Earlier this week, the company announced a new pay plan for bank branch employees that would eliminate incentives for opening accounts or meeting sales goals.

New checking account openings fell 40 percent in December compared to the same month the year before.

Overall, Wells Fargo reported net income of $5.27 billion, or 96 cents per share, in the three months ending Dec. 31, compared with $5.58 billion, or $1 per share, in the same quarter the year before.