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Facebook's initial public offering — $16 billion and counting — is shaping up to be one of the largest in history. The company and its investors are betting that the social media giant can learn enough from its users so it can target ads that will be worth big, big money...

Details: http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2012/05/16/152858021/what-facebook-is-selling-is-us?ft=1&f=1006

Minutes of the Federal Reserve's April 24-25 meeting released Wednesday stated that "several members" thought additional Fed support could be needed if the recovery lost momentum or if the risks to the economy became great enough...

Details: http://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/152846195/fed-more-open-to-helping-the-economy-if-needed?ft=1&f=1006

Skechers has agreed to pay $40 million to settle claims that it deceived its customers by saying its Shape-ups shoes would help people who wore them shed pounds and tone their abs, buttocks and legs, the Federal Trade Commission said...

Details: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/05/16/152831686/buyers-of-hyped-skechers-toning-shoes-can-get-refunds?ft=1&f=1006

Manufacturing rose 0.6 percent in April, erasing a 0.5 percent decline in March. Half of the April increase reflected a 3.9 percent jump in the production of motor vehicles and parts, the Federal Reserve said...

Details: http://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/152824355/autos-help-speedup-in-factory-production?ft=1&f=1006

Facebook needs more users — and it needs to figure out how to make more money off of each user...

Details: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/05/16/150957728/how-facebook-can-live-up-to-the-hype?ft=1&f=1006

Builders broke ground at a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 717,000 homes last month. Construction rose for both single-family homes and apartments. Building permits, a gauge of future construction, fell 7 percent because of a sharp drop in applications to build apartments...

Details: http://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/152818100/housing-construction-up-2-6-percent-in-april?ft=1&f=1006

The country will try again to form a government. Meanwhile, its president worries about million so euros being pulled out of Greek banks. And talk of a "Grexit" from the euro zone is increasing...

Details: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/16/152816508/greece-sets-new-election-for-june-17-fear-of-bank-runs-reported?ft=1&f=1006

The hoopla continues over Facebook's initial public offering of stock, which is set for Friday...

Details: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/16/152815099/folks-seem-to-like-it-so-facebook-boosts-size-of-stock-offering-by-25-percent?ft=1&f=1006

Fragrances for the man candles include Riding Mower, which smells like freshly cut grass, and First Down, which has the smell of orange and leather...

Details: http://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/152809415/the-last-word-in-business?ft=1&f=1006

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner warned on Tuesday that the U.S. will likely hit its debt limit sometime before the end of the year. At the same event in Washington, House Speaker John Boehner promised that any increase in the nation's debt ceiling would have to be accompanied by corresponding budget reductions. ...

Details: http://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/152809395/debt-ceiling-debate-is-revived-in-washington?ft=1&f=1006

JPMorgan Chase hosted its annual shareholder meeting in Tampa Tuesday, and it was the first chance for shareholders to weigh in on the banks problems. News the bank lost at least $2 billion in a botched trading strategy gave fresh fodder to critics who want banks to be more tightly regulated...

Details: http://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/152809417/majority-of-shareholders-still-support-jpmorgan-chase?ft=1&f=1006

A ruling this week by a federal appeals court means non-profit groups running one type of political campaign ad will no longer be able to keep their donors secret. The appellate order, however, could be appealed...

Details: http://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/152809397/appeals-court-moves-toward-identifying-donors?ft=1&f=1006

Ford Motor Company is making tens of thousands of white-collar retirees decide whether they want to keep getting their pension in monthly installments, or get a lump sum payout. Ford sees the unprecedented move as a way to reduce the company's liabilities...

Details: http://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/152809399/certain-ford-retirees-face-major-pension-decision?ft=1&f=1006

The $1.4 billion project includes 12 new gates and eight security checkpoints. It's designed to allow international travelers to bypass Atlanta's main terminal. Officials hope it will attract more international businesses to Georgia...

Details: http://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/152809403/international-travelers-welcome-atlantas-new-air-terminal?ft=1&f=1006

Berkshire Hathaway, owned by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, spent more than $200 million on the car company. It's the first time Berkshire has invested in an American automaker...

Details: http://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/152809409/business-news?ft=1&f=1006