The number of permits for new homes in York County dropped 44.9 percent in the first quarter of 2008 compared with 2007, further illustrating the decline in new home building in the area.

The data, compiled by the Catawba Regional Council of Governments, shows 445 single-family home permits were issued from January through March, compared with 807 permits in the first quarter of 2007. Mobile home permits also dropped by 50 percent. In Chester County, 22 single-family permits were issued, up from 18 in the same period last year.

Commercial permits slightly increased in York County, with 34 issued this year, compared with 32 in 2007. Chester County issued one commercial building permit in the first quarter, the same number as last year.

Sport Clips grand opening to be Friday

FORT MILL -- Sport Clips will have a ribbon-cutting and grand opening event at 10 a.m. Friday at its new location, 1135 Stonecrest Blvd., Suite 119, in front of the Tega Cay Wal-Mart off S.C. 160.

The business, which has a sports atmosphere, offers hair cuts for men and boys.

Sport Clips' hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call (803) 802-9966 or visit www.sportclips.com.

The York County Regional Chamber of Commerce will assist with this event.

Clearwire, Sprint to form wireless company

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Clearwire and Sprint Nextel said Wednesday they will combine their wireless broadband units to create a $14.55 billion communications company.

The company, which will retain Clearwire's name, will continue developing a mobile network based on WiMax technology, which promises faster speeds than the latest cellular networks for movies, games and other data services.

A group of outside investors, including Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, will kick in $3.2 billion for the new company.

Worker productivity up in first quarter

WASHINGTON -- Worker productivity rose by a better-than-expected amount in the first three months of the year while labor cost pressures eased.

The Labor Department reported Wednesday that productivity, the amount of output per hour of work, increased at an annual rate of 2.2 percent in the first quarter. That was slightly higher than the 1.5 percent increase that had been expected.

Oil jumps on drop in diesel, heating oil

NEW YORK -- Oil futures extended their seemingly relentless advance Wednesday, rising to a new record near $124 a barrel as investors captivated by the market's upward momentum looked past the government's report of an increase in crude and gasoline supplies. At the pump, gas prices rose for the first time since last week.

Light, sweet crude for June delivery hit a new trading record of $123.93 in after-hours activity on the New York Mercantile Exchange after settling up $1.69 at a record close of $123.53 a barrel.

Analysts attributed oil's rise to continued buying from the surge that pushed prices past $120 for the first time earlier this week.