PPG Industries predicts rising profit in 2011

PPG Industries Inc. expects that lower prices for U.S. natural gas used to make chlorine will help boost its 2011 earnings by up to $80 million. In a presentation Tuesday at an industry symposium in New York, PPG chairman Charles Bunch said the company's high-cost gas hedges would expire next year. The coatings, chemicals and glass maker is based Downtown.

6 local Wellspring jobs moving to Chicago

Web-based software provider Wellspring Worldwide will open an office in Chicago in February and take its customer support group there, including six positions now in Pittsburgh. CEO Robert Lowe said its SEED program (Services for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development) and some engineering staff would remain in Pittsburgh.

Google nears $6 billion deal to acquire Groupon

Google Inc. is close to an agreement to acquire daily coupon company Groupon Inc. for about $6 billion, according to two people with knowledge of the negotiations. Chicago-based Groupon was founded two years ago by Mt. Lebanon native Andrew Mason. The deal may be clinched as early as this week, said the people, who declined to be identified.

Americold said to be near bond offering

Billionaire Ron Burkle is seeking to raise cash in a bond offering backed by Americold Realty Trust's debt as sales of securities tied to commercial properties climb, according to people familiar with the transaction. Americold, a warehouse operator owned by Mr. Burkle's Los Angeles-based Yucaipa Cos., is planning a $600 million offering linked to mortgages as soon as this week, said the sources, who declined to be identified because the plans aren't public.

Electric vehicle chargers going into Cracker Barrels

Cracker Barrel, modeled to represent a slower time of rocking chairs on old wooden porches, will soon feature a very modern technology -- electric vehicle chargers. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc,. based in Lebanon, Tenn., has launched a pilot project in which it will install Blink electric vehicle chargers, provided by Ecotality Inc., at 24 restaurants across Tennessee. Prices for the service haven't been set.

Home prices falling faster in cities, study says

Home prices are falling faster in the nation's largest cities, and a record number of foreclosures are expected to push prices down further through next year, according to a report released Tuesday. The Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller 20-city home price index, which does not include Pittsburgh, fell 0.7 percent in September from August.

Also in business ...

The average price of a gallon of unleaded gasoline in the Pittsburgh area dropped 1.47 cents this week, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge. Tuesday's price was $2.968, compared with $2.982 a week ago. ... Armstrong World Industries told state officials it might lay off up to 30 people around Feb. 1 as part of its plan to close its Beaver Falls plant.... Philadelphia-based law firm Fox Rothschild will open its 16th office, in Washington, D.C. It has an office in Pittsburgh.