Why retire?

A study by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs found that 63 percent of workers 65 or older get "deep satisfaction" from their work, while only 38 percent of young adults felt the same. One expert attributed this to veteran workers having reached positions of greater security and salary, while younger ones are still deciding career paths and may be, for now, in a job they dislike.

Going into hiding

The young woman who has graced the ill-fated HealthCare.gov website, the one that lures applicants in to the health insurance marketplace and then leaves them hanging, has made her exit. After the poor woman kept catching snark from website critics, and became a target of "Who is she?" speculation, officials decided to spare her more ridicule and make the homepage faceless. That, of course, led to tweets of the woman's photo on the side of a milk carton with the caption, "Missing. Have you seen me?"

That's a lot of smarts

Samsung shipped a record 88.4 million smartphones in the third quarter and now holds a global market share of 35.2 percent, up from 32.9 percent in 2012. By comparison, rival Apple's market share was 13.4 percent, down from 15.6 percent a year ago.

Staying the stimulus course

Citing the dysfunction in Congress that led to a 16-day shutdown last month, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday said it will continue buying $85 billion worth of bonds every month until the economy strengthens. It is generally expected that the Fed will stay with this strategy going into 2014.

This won't buy many colas

Social Security recipients last week learned they'll be receiving a 1.5 percent cost-of-living (COLA) increase in benefits beginning in January, for an average of $19 more per month. Officials say the increase, one of the smallest in more than 35 years, is in line with the minimal increase in consumer prices the past year.

A nation indebted

Meanwhile, Uncle Sam's deficit runs $680.3 billion, the first time in five years it has been below $1 trillion but still the fifth-largest deficit of all time.

Cleared for takeoff

Smartphones, e-readers and tablets got the OK from the Federal Aviation Administration for use during "all phases of flight," but cell phone use is still grounded. The new rule overturns a half-century ban.

Steve Twedt: stwedt@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1963.

First Published: November 3, 2013, 4:00 a.m.