Japan’s economy may shrink at an annual 6.5 percent pace this quarter, Bank of America Corp. said after reports last week showed industrial production and exports posted the biggest declines on record.

A great earthquake has rumbled through the financial markets, and no one knows for certain when the aftershocks will subside. But it’s not too early to check your foundation.

Thousands more Missourians have had their natural-gas service shut off for nonpayment this year than in previous years, another sign of a faltering economy that’s left hundreds of thousands across the state without jobs and cost some residents their homes.

Kuwait’s cabinet may have defused a new row with parliament by bowing to calls to scrap a $17 billion deal with Dow Chemical but the move is a blow to its plans to attract investment and diversify the economy.

Gasoline prices declined for the fourth straight day on Tuesday, falling below the $1.66 per gallon mark, according to a national survey of credit card swipes at gasoline stations. The national average fell .4 cents to $1.659 per gallon for regular unleaded, according to motorist group AAA. A recent 86-day streak of declines ended at $1.656 in mid-December when prices bumped slightly higher.

During the first six months of 2008, commodities looked to be the savior of investors who were losing money in the stock market. In the second half, particularly for those who had invested in oil, futures contracts were their undoing.