Journal claims sales crown

NEW YORK » The Wall Street Journal has surpassed USA Today as the top-selling daily newspaper in the United States.

The Audit Bureau of Circulations won't be releasing its latest figures until next Monday, but the Journal said it gained about 12,000 subscribers in the April-September period, compared with a year earlier. That puts its average Monday-Friday circulation at 2.02 million.

Gannett Co.-owned USA Today, which has long been No. 1, said it had its worst circulation decline ever, dropping 17 percent to 1.88 million. Gannett also owns the Honolulu Advertiser.

Audit rules allow newspapers to count some online-only subscriptions.

Foodland raises $1.7M for nonprofits

Foodland Super Market Ltd. said it raised $1.7 million to give to Hawaii's nonprofit organizations this year—the most money that has been raised for the community through its Give Aloha program since the annual event began in 1999.

During Give Aloha, Foodland's annual community matching gifts program, customers donated more than $1.3 million to their favorite Hawaii nonprofit organizations at Foodland and Sack N Save checkouts statewide from Sept. 1 through 30. Foodland and Western Union Foundation donated more than $325,000 to match a portion of customer donations. Together, $1.7 million was raised for more than 600 nonprofit organizations in Hawaii.

Maui is top Pacific island, Conde Nast readers say

Maui is the “;best island in the world”; and the No. 1 Pacific island, according to readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

It is Maui's 15th time at the top of the world and its 19th consecutive year as the Pacific's best island in the 22nd annual reader poll. Kauai placed second, the Big Island was sixth, Oahu got seventh place and Lanai was No. 8.

Hawaii resorts competed not against resorts in other destinations, but against each other, and three Four Seasons Resorts took the top three slots: Maui at Wailea; Hualalai; and Lanai, the Lodge at Koele.

The October “;Readers' Choice”; issue hits newsstands tomorrow.

4 jobs to be cut at Big Isle resort after restaurant closes

Four jobs will be lost at the Mauna Lani Resort's Francis H. I'i Brown Golf Courses as the Gallery Restaurant and Knickers Bar and Lounge will close around Dec. 15.

All employees will be terminated unless they opt to be hired into another position within the resort, according to a notice filed with the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Operations will be leased to N Restaurant LLC, doing business as Huli Sue's.

Genetics convention opens in isles tomorrow

The American Society of Human Genetics will gather for its 59th annual meeting tomorrow through Saturday at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

The association expects 6,000 scientists and clinicians in the field of genetics from around the world to gather for more than 260 sessions and to visit booths set up by nearly 250 U.S. and international exhibitors.

The convention is expected to result in some $28.3 million in visitor spending.

Mobi PCS expands service on the Big Island

Honolulu-based Mobi PCS has activated a new cell site in the Big Island's Orchidland subdivision to strengthen its 3G network throughout the subdivision as well as Pahoa and Keaau. The deployment is part of the company's plan to add 20 cell sites this year.

Economic upswing a hard sell

Most economists believe the recession is over, but consumers certainly aren't celebrating. A Gallup Poll shopping survey reveals that Americans are expected to remain frugal in the critical months amid a weak job market and tight credit.

Gallup's findings show that the average daily spending on discretionary items such as apparel and home furnishings was down 30 percent in September across all income levels from a year ago.

For now, consumers plan to be stingy with holiday purchases. The Gallup survey of 1,000 shoppers found that consumers will spend an average of $740 on holiday gifts this year, down from $801 a year ago.

Total recall

A Swedish company is recalling diving suit hoses after the death of a diver in Los Angeles. About 65,000 diving air hoses for dry suits were recalled by manufacturer SI Tech AB of Sweden because the hose contains an insert that can dislodge during diving and restrict air flow to the diver, posing a drowning hazard, according to an announcement from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

For more information, consumers can visit the agency's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

COMING UP

» Today: National Association of Home Builders releases housing market index for October.
» Tomorrow: Commerce Department releases housing starts for September.
» Wednesday: Federal Reserve releases Beige Book.
» Thursday: Federal Housing Finance Agency releases August home price index.
» Friday: National Association of Realtors releases existing home sales for August.