Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is talking tough about Chrysler's unions and says he might take an active role in running the automaker if a deal goes though, John Reed reports. Analysts say Marchionne would be a solid Chrysler boss, given his track record turning around Fiat since 2004, but warn that the dual role could overstretch him. Asked by the Toronto Globe and Mail if he might be willing to serve as Chrysler's CEO, Marchionne said: "Fundamentally, that's possible, but the title isn't important." He added: "What's important is that they hear me. It's possible that I will have …

A group of Saturn dealers says it will adapt fuel-efficient and electric vehicles from other automakers to a Saturn style if General Motors sells them its brand name. Telesto Ventures would only keep a skeletal design crew and would not build vehicles, but says it could save about 10,000 jobs at 440 Saturn dealerships in the U.S. and Canada. While such a business model would be novel, Justin Hyde reports, Telesto's backers say global overcapacity among automakers would give the reformulated Saturn several possible sources of new vehicles. And it would give foreign automakers an instant distribution network in …

Fewer new-drug introductions and heightened congressional scrutiny of drug marketing led to an 8% drop in consumer advertising of prescription drugs in 2008, Keith J. Winstein and Suzanne Vranica report. Total spending was $4.4 billion, according to market researcher IMS Health. Spending peaked at $4.8 billion in 2007, up from less than $1 billion in 1997, when the Food and Drug Administration relaxed restrictions on marketing directly to consumers. In the U.S., ads aimed at consumers typically account for only about 40% of the total marketing budget for prescription drugs, according to the pharmaceutical industry, with the rest directed …

After a 10-year run as the top shipper of personal computers to U.S. customers, Dell dropped to second place behind Hewlett-Packard in the first quarter, Dan Zehr reports. H-P, Acer and other top computer makers posted gains or comparatively small declines, but Dell's shipments dropped precipitously, both in the U.S. and worldwide, according to preliminary data released Wednesday by two technology research firms. In the U.S., Dell's first-quarter shipments dropped 16.2%, while H-P increased domestic shipments by 12.2%, IDC says. This results in 27.6% percent share of the U.S. market for H-P to 26.3% for Dell. Overall, U.S. personal …

Second-hand shops are thriving across the country as unemployed workers -- and those worried they will be -- look for less-expensive clothes, furniture and household items, Andrea Stone reports. But many thrift shops are also running low on merchandise as fewer people are able to donate. "The two-bag donor is now bringing in one bag," says Goodwill Industries spokeswoman Lauren Lawson. February revenue at Goodwill was up 7.2% over last year. The Salvation Army doesn't have national figures, but its Western district, which includes six states, saw same-store sales for the six months starting Oct. 1 rise 8%, says …

Not surprisingly, Domino's original position that such a response would be akin to "putting out a candle with a fire hose" did not hold water.