HealthCare.gov deadline extendedWASHINGTON — The Obama administration is giving consumers a few extra days to sign up on HealthCare.gov in time for health insurance coverage to take effect Jan. 1.The new deadline is 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Monday says Kevin Counihan, CEO of the federal health insurance markets.The unexpected extension was announced after close of business Thursday. Counihan said it’s due to strong interest.The old deadline was Thursday.President-elect Donald Trump and the GOP Congress have vowed to repeal and replace the 2010 health care law.

UPMC to add tower at Erie hospitalERIE — The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center says it’s adding a new $111 million patient care tower to a northwestern Pennsylvania hospital to accommodate a growing number of patients.UPMC says the seven-story building will be 177,000 square feet. It’ll be located between the main hospital and Magee-Womens, UPMC Hamot.The project includes more than 60 intensive care unit beds and an expansion of the imaging department.Plans also call for upgrading the central plant and shell space for future needs.Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2018 and be completed in late 2020.

Consumer prices up; food prices flatWASHINGTON — Consumer prices rose in November by the smallest amount in three months as the climb in energy prices moderated a bit and food prices remained flat.The Labor Department said Thursday that its consumer price index increased 0.2 percent last month after a 0.4 percent October increase.Food prices showed no increase for a fifth straight month.Over the past year, consumer prices are up 1.7 percent, still below the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent annual inflation target.