WASHINGTON — The independent commission that oversees the Postal Service is preparing to deliver its verdict on a request for a 2-cent increase — to 46 cents — in the cost of mailing a letter.

In July the Postal Service proposed raising first-class postage from 44 cents to 46 cents as part of a strategy for dealing with a deepening financial crisis. The Postal Service lost $3.8 billion last year and is on track to lose $7 billion this year and next.

With mail volume continuing to decline in the Internet age and the economic meltdown reducing advertising mail, the Postal Service is seeking other rate increases as well.

WASHINGTON — Fisher-Price is recalling more than 10 million tricycles, toys and high chairs over safety concerns.The Consumer Product Safety Commission said today that two of the products being recalled involved injuries.In the recall of about 7 million Fisher-Price Trikes and Tough Trikes toddler tricycles, the agency is aware of 10 reports of children being hurt. Six of them required medical attention.The trikes — some of which which feature popular characters like Dora the Explorer and Barbie — have a protruding plastic ignition key near the seat that children can strike, sit on or fall on, leading to injuries that the commission said can include genital bleeding.Fisher-Price is also recalling more than 1 million Healthy Care, Easy Clean and Close to Me High Chairs, after 14 reports of problems. Seven children required stitches, the commission said.Consumers can visit the company's website at www.service.mattel.com for more information on the dates of sale and model numbers for the recalled products.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys R Us will hire about 45,000 employees to help with the holiday season, doubling its U.S. work force.The privately held toy company said it is hiring more workers than in the past three holiday seasons because of an additional 600 smaller stores located in malls and shopping centers. Those "pop-up" stores are called Toys R Us Express.

HERSHEY — Chocolate maker Hershey has gained township approval for a $200 million expansion project that would shift production from a century-old plant to a modern facility nearby.Derry Township supervisors on Tuesday approved the final land development plans for the 243,000-square-foot expansion at a plant in West Hershey.After construction is complete, production would shift to the expanded facility from the original plant built by company founder Milton Hershey.Company officials say the existing 105-year-old plant has low ceilings and a troublesome layout. The building on Chocolate Avenue would be converted to office space following the move.