government said wednesday

The nation's commercial crude oil and gasoline supplies rose last week, the government said Wednesday.

Japan's industrial production rose for a second straight month as factories continued to recover after the sharp downturn from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the government said Wednesday.

China's surging inflation should rise again this month after flooding damaged crops and pushed up food costs, the government said Wednesday.

Japan's exports in March fell for the first time in 16 months, hit by the fallout from last month's massive earthquake and tsunami, which destroyed factories and crippled supply chains, the government said Wednesday.

The federal government said Wednesday that it will take majority control of troubled auto lender GMAC and provide an additional $3.8 billion in aid to the company, which has been unable to raise from private investors the money it needs to staunch its losses.

Japan's exports fell 36.5 percent in July from a year earlier as an emerging rebound in global demand lost steam, the government said Wednesday.

Crude inventories rose last week, though gasoline supplies dropped yet again, the government said Wednesday.

Crude oil reserves fell more than expected last week while gasoline stockpiles expanded, the government said Wednesday.

Consumer inflation in June rose at its fastest pace in 11 months as gasoline costs surged, a new report from the government said Wednesday.

Switzerland's government said Wednesday it would forbid the Swiss bank UBS AG from complying with any court-ordered transfer of data on tens of thousands of American clients to the U.S. government, and would consider seizing documents to prevent that.