Amazon ups free shipping minimum

Amazon.com hiked its minimum purchase for free online shipping for the first time in more than 10 years, just days before it also starts collecting state sales taxes for the first time from Massachusetts customers.

The world's largest online retailer yesterday increased its minimum order size for free "Super Saver Shipping" to $35 from $25.

The change comes as it prepares to start charging the 6.25 percent state sales tax on purchases by Bay Staters on Nov. 1 — a move expected to generate $36.7 million for the state in the next seven months of the fiscal year, according to the Department of Revenue.

The state announced last December that it had reached a collection agreement with Amazon, which reported $61.09 billion in total sales last year, after the company opened a Cambridge software office and bought a North Reading robotics company.

"There's still a lot of others we need marketplace fairness with, and that's only going to come with passage of legislation through Congress," said Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts.

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College prices appear to be moderating

WASHINGTON — There's some good news on college tuition. Yes, the cost has gone up — but not as much in the past.

For in-state students at a four-year public college or university, published tuition and fees increased this year on average $247 to $8,893. That's a 2.9 percent increase — the smallest one-year increase in more than 30 years, the College Board said Wednesday in its annual report on college prices.

Out-of-state prices, as well as the costs to attend public two-year colleges and private institutions rose but they also avoided big spikes, said Sandy Baum, co-author of the report. These more moderate increases could lessen concern that an annual rapid growth is tuition prices in the new normal.

"It does seem that the spiral is moderating. Not turning around, not ending, but moderating," Baum said.

The average published cost for tuition and fees at a private college for the 2013-14 academic year was $30,094 — up $1,105. An out-of-state student at a public college or university faced an annual average price tag of $22,203, which is up $670. The average price tag to for an in-state student to attend a two-year institution was much less at $3,264 — up $110.

Most students don't actually pay that, though. There are grants, tax credits and deductions that help ease the cost of going to college. About two-thirds of full-time students get grants, most from the federal government.

But, in the two years leading up to the 2012-2013 school year, the federal aid per full-time equivalent undergraduate student declined 9 percent, or about $325.

That means students have to foot more of the bill themselves.

"The rapid increases in college prices have slowed, however, student and families are paying more because grant aid is not keeping up," said David Coleman, president of the College Board.

While the average published price for tuition and fees for a private college is $30,094, the net price is $12,460 — up $530 from last year. The net price is what they actually pay after grants. There were years this decade that saw the net price going down, but it has gone up the last two years.

The average published in-state price for tuition and fees at a public four-year school is $8,893, but the average net price is about $3,120.

Molly Corbett Broad, president of the American Council on Education, in a statement called it "troubling" that overall grant aid is not keeping up with prices. Her organization represents the presidents of U.S. colleges and universities.

"Institutions are committed to holding down costs, but it is equally important for state and federal governments to play their part to make college affordable," she said.

The College Board is a not-for-profit membership group that promotes college access and owns the SAT exam.

The report spells out the large declines in state appropriations given to public institutions in recent years. These cuts have been blamed for rises in college costs. Other causes often cited range from the high cost of health care for employees to the demand by students for flashier campus amenities.

Among the other findings in the report:

— Adding in costs for room and board to live on campus, average annual published costs: At public, four-year universities, $18,391 for in-state students and $31,701 for out-of-state students; $40,917 for private colleges and universities; $10,730 for in-state students at public two year schools.

— The average published tuition and fees at for-profit institutions increased by $70 to $15,130 — an increase of less than 1 percent.

— New Hampshire and Vermont had the highest published in-state tuition and fees at both four-year and two-year institutions. Wyoming and Alaska had the lowest published in-state tuition and fees at a four-year institution, while California and New Mexico had the lowest in-state among two-year schools.

— In 2012-2013, $238.5 billion in financial aid was issued to undergraduate and graduate students in the forms of grants from all sources, Federal Work-Study, federal loans and federal tax credits and deductions. Also, students borrowed about $8.8 billion from private, state and institutional sources.

— About 60 percent of students who earned bachelor's degrees in 2011-2012 graduated with debt, borrowing a total of $26,500 on average.

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Online: http://www.collegeboard.org/

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Follow Kimberly Hefling at http://www.twitter.com/khefling

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World stocks down after weaker US hiring report

BANGKOK — World stock markets fell Wednesday, hit by slower U.S. hiring and reports of tighter money market conditions in China that could check its economic recovery.

Weaker-than-expected U.S. job creation in September was a mixed cue for markets. On the plus side, it boosted the case for a full-strength continuation of the Federal Reserve's super-easy monetary policy that has boosted investment in stocks worldwide. On the downside, it suggests U.S. demand for exports will continue to be subdued, which could hurt company earnings.

The Labor Department reported that 148,000 jobs were created in September, below the consensus among analysts for around 180,000. Following revisions to back data, it means that the U.S. economy added an average of 143,000 jobs a month from July through September, down from 182,000 from April through June.

Sentiment in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan was hurt by reports the central bank refrained from injecting funds into money markets, pushing up short-term lending rates.

Markets were also down in Europe where Britain's FTSE 100 dropped 0.4 percent to 6,668.81. Germany's DAX fell 0.4 percent to 8,912.97 and France's CAC-40 tumbled 0.6 percent to 4,269.70.

Futures pointed to a retreat on Wall Street too. Dow futures were down 0.4 percent and broader S&P 500 futures lost 0.5 percent.

In Asia, China's Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.3 percent to 2,183.11 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 1.4 percent to 23,999.95. Taiwan's benchmark dropped 0.3 percent to 8,393.62.

China's economic growth rebounded to 7.8 percent in the third quarter but inflation and house prices have also risen, creating a balancing act for policymakers who want to shift the economy to growth driven by consumption rather than investment and exports.

Japan's Nikkei 225 tumbled 2 percent to 14,426.05 as the yen gained against the U.S. dollar, which can hurt sales and profits at Japanese exporters.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.3 percent to 5,356.10.

In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude for December delivery was down 78 cents at $97.53 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $1.38 to $98.30 on Tuesday.

The dollar fell to 97.26 yen from 98.13 yen late Tuesday. The euro fell to $1.3755 from $1.3777.

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After 2-week delay, September jobs report due

WASHINGTON — September employment data is finally set to appear Tuesday after being delayed two weeks by the partial government shutdown.

Economists forecast that employers added 180,000 jobs in September, according to FactSet. That would be a slight improvement from August's gain of 169,000. And it would be much better than the average 155,000 jobs a month added from May through August. The unemployment rate is expected to remain at 7.3 percent.

The job market has stumbled in recent months after starting the year with some promise.

The jobs report is carrying less weight than usual because the shutdown has likely slowed growth and hiring. And the September figures are certain to be revised two weeks later, when the government reports on October hiring. Some experts predict October numbers will be disappointing.

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Study: Flavored small cigars are popular with kids

ATLANTA — The first study of cigars flavored to taste sweet suggests they're a hit with underage smokers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 1 in 30 middle and high school kids say they smoke the compact, candy- or fruit-flavored cigars. The percentages rise as kids get older, to nearly 1 in 12 high school seniors.

The results — based on a 2011 survey of nearly 19,000 students, grades 6 through 12 — were published online Tuesday by the Journal of Adolescent Health.

There are no restrictions on sales of flavored cigars except in Maine, Maryland, New York City and Providence, R.I.

The sale of cigarettes and cigars to those under 18 is illegal but CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden says the cigars are as dangerous as cigarettes and that the marketing of such products seems intended to interest kids in smoking.

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Startup has skin in the game

A Colombian company offering new hope to burn victims and other patients who suffer skin tissue loss is one of the 26 MassChallenge top finalists who'll compete on Oct. 30 for a piece of the start-up accelerator's $1.5 million in cash prizes.

Keraderm was founded in Bogota in 2010 by a group of plastic surgeons, who set out to find an affordable, painless way of treating tissue loss resulting from burns, ulcers, tumors and trauma.

The typical treatment calls for a graft to be taken from a patient's healthy skin and meshed to cover a large wound — a surgical procedure that often results in severe pain, significant scarring and, sometimes, rejection by the patient's body.

But Keraderm's team found that by taking a sample of healthy skin less than one centimeter in diameter from behind a patient's ear, within five to seven days they could reproduce the skin cells and plant them on a collagen sheet four times the size of a business card to cover the wound, said Jorge Soto, the company's chief financial officer.

"It starts to heal the injury by accelerating the growth of healthy skin cells," Soto said. "In 20 to 40 days, the wound is completely healed."

The patent-pending procedure, which eliminates the need for an operating room and anesthesia as well as the possibility of rejection, has been successfully done on more than 100 patients so far in 11 different hospitals in Colombia and entails no pain or scarring, he said.

A 10-by-10-centimeter sheet of skin also costs $550, significantly less than a skin graft operation does.

"There are other variations of what we're doing," Soto said, "but we haven't been able to find anyone doing the same thing."

Keraderm hopes to expand the procedure in Latin America before bringing it to the United States, where it would need to be tested in a clinical trial to gain regulatory approval.

That's a process that would take the kind of money the company, which has only eight employees including Soto, does not yet have, he said.

The team bootstrapped the start-up with $50,000 and in 2012 raised an additional $300,000 from angel investors, allowing it to open a lab in Bogota that June, Soto said.

But even if Keraderm doesn't win any money in MassChallenge, he said, the four-month accelerator, for which they were selected out of a field of nearly 1,200 applicants, has been worth it.

"I never even thought I was going to be here," Soto said. "It's going to help me a lot to show we have a product that is working."

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Massport to hit up pols

Massachusetts Port Authority officials — already facing a ticking clock to grab vital federal funding — are prepping to start a Beacon Hill blitz this week to pitch a $300 million plan to dredge Boston Harbor, hoping to convince lawmakers to bankroll nearly a quarter of it.

The four-year project to deepen the Hub's vital maritime channels could double the amount of cargo containers that pass through Boston Harbor — a 
$42.5 million business for Massport last year — and will help it vie for the bigger cargo ships primed to hit East Coast ports starting in 2015, officials say.

But they admit they're already playing catch-up to other ports' dredging projects, making lobbying efforts — both federally and at the state level — crucial to keeping them competitive.

"We want to make sure we're putting our best foot forward and make the case for federal funding, and make the case for state funding. But it's kind of a chicken-and-egg process," Massport CEO Thomas Glynn said, noting the board has yet to vote on the project but could within four months. "We have to tell the board, then we have to go to the State House, so we kind of go back and forth."

Their first targets are East Boston lawmakers, whose sometimes prickly history with the agency mean Massport pitches always require a grain of salt, said Eastie state Rep. Carlo Basile.

"I just don't take their word for it. I do my own due diligence," said Basile, who plans to meet with Massport officials Tuesday. He admitted he's aware of little to no complaints from past dredging projects rolled out in 2001, 2005 and 2008, but warned, "that's not to say it can't happen this time."

"It's a much bigger project," Basile said. "I'm still waiting to hear a lot of details."

Massport spokesman Matthew Brelis, said, "We talk with legislators all the time on a host of things," but noted for the dredging project officials are starting with lawmakers from "impacted communities" before moving on to others.

Massport officials are counting on as much as 
$170 million in federal money for the project, with $65 million each coming from the agency and the state.

Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey, who chairs the Massport board, implored members that "we shouldn't do anything right now that would preclude us from the $170 million," likening the shot at the federal funds to waiting for Halley's Comet.

"You can call it Davey's Comet," he told the board during a Thursday meeting.

When Congress will act to award the money, however, is unclear, especially in the wake of the government shutdown, Glynn said.

"Everything is up for grabs down there until it's final," he said. "(Other ports) are a little bit ahead of us in terms of making their request ... but we have enough time. It's a question of it's a moving target."

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What to do when battery is on its last legs

I have a 2005 Hyundai Tucson with 90,000 miles on it. I've never had a problem since I purchased the vehicle, but I'm worried the battery will fail sometime soon because of its age. I'm planning to change the battery myself but I'm concerned about the computer and electronics due to the temporary loss of power during the replacement process. What should I do before and after changing the battery?

Just drive the car. Replacing the battery, which of course requires disconnecting the vehicle's electrical system from the original battery, will do no harm to the vehicle's electronics. You'll likely have to reset the radio station pre-sets and the engine management system will take a few miles of driving to "re-learn" your driving characteristics, but you probably will not notice anything.

Perhaps the more relevant question at this point is: Should you replace the battery now or wait until it fails? Being a founding member of the "Snug America" club and not wanting to part with any more of my hard-earned dollars than absolutely necessary, I lean toward the latter. Most batteries will develop symptoms of impending failure such as slow engine cranking speeds, giving you a heads-up that it's time for a new one. But batteries can and do fail suddenly and completely without warning.

So when I suspect a battery might be on its last legs, I carry a portable battery booster in the vehicle. Then, if the battery does fail, — at any time and for any reason — I can jump-start the vehicle to complete my trip.

This, by definition, is the Murphy's Law of automobiles — if you have a spare part with you, you'll probably never need to use it!

And finally, to put your mind at ease, have the original battery tested at a local parts store. A load test or electronic test will give you an idea of how much life your battery still has.

I have a '93 Buick Riviera with the 3800 V6 engine and 182,000 miles. When I start the engine it makes a "thudding" noise four to five times. It has done this intermittently for the past three years. One mechanic told me it could be a cracked flywheel. Can you help?

Does this noise primarily occur on a cold start after the car's been sitting for at least several hours? Also, watch the oil pressure warning light carefully as you start the engine — do the "thuds" last precisely until the warning light goes out? If so, the noise may be due to worn main or rod bearings. Once oil pressure is up, the excess clearance is buffered by the oil film and the noise stops.

A cracked flex plate/flywheel or loose torque converter mounting bolts could cause a similar noise, but for three years without some type of failure? Other possibilities include a broken or failed engine/drivetrain mount or an engine startup misfire.

Regardless of the cause, at 20 years old and nearing 200,000 miles, I'm not sure I'd be willing to spend much on repairs. If the vehicle is still nice, keep an eye out for a used or rebuilt engine. Remember the automotive version of Murphy's Law.

We have a 2008 Buick Lucerne. This fall we will be leaving the state for about seven months. Should we disconnect the battery? Will this mess up the computers? Also, should I use a trickle charger or a float charger? What's the difference?

I recommend disconnecting the battery — it is safer and will cause no harm as described above — and connect a float charger or battery maintainer like Battery Tender to keep the battery safely charged while you're away.

A trickle charger continuously charges the battery at a low amperage rate, which can lead to overcharging and battery failure. A battery maintainer charges and holds the battery at its optimum voltage safely for an indefinite period.

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Harvard Square icon to close

For more than three decades, it has been a fixture in Harvard Square, first as UpStairs at the Pudding and, since 2002, as UpStairs on the Square — in both its incarnations, a place that drew celebrities and locals alike for its eclectic menu and its Alice in Wonderland decor.

But on New Year's Eve, the iconic restaurant that Mary-Catherine Deibel and Deborah Hughes founded will close its doors for the last time after a grand finale fete with dancing and champagne to celebrate UpStairs' storied history.

"It's been a long and fruitful 31 years," Deibel said last night. "Now it's pedal to the metal so we have a great three months."

News that their landlord has decided to sell the building at 91 Winthrop St. came as a shock to those who have come to see it as a local landmark.

The restaurant opened in 1982 for Harvard's Hasting Pudding Woman of the Year, Ella Fitzgerald, and went on to host other celebrities over the years, including Bono, Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts and James Franco.

"The restaurant has always been beautiful and fun, with its zebra prints, hot pink walls and chandeliers," said Denise Jillson, executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association. "It could make something as simple as a roast chicken dinner memorable. It will be sorely missed."

UpStairs had a particular appeal for young professional women who could meet there after work for drinks, Jillson said. Her personal favorite was the Jackie O'.

"I have no idea what was in it," she said. "I can only tell you that it was very effective."

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Midtown luxury units sport perks

The developers of Millennium Place, a 15-story luxury complex in midtown, aren't just selling condos, but creating an upscale urban lifestyle.

The three-bedroom condo we looked at had all the high-end amenities and views you'd expect with a price point of more than $1,000 per square foot. But what separates it from other properties of its type is a complete lifestyle experience called La Vie that offers residents social events, from fireside chats with notable guests to movie nights in the 16-seat common screening room as well as on- and off-site wine and culinary events, and musical and theatrical performances.

Other amenities include an owner's lounge with a wall-length fireplace and a bar and dining area with food catered by the upcoming on-site Legal Crossing restaurant. There's also a fully outfitted Sports Club/L.A. fitness center with a yoga room and a meditation center and a kid's club playroom.

Millennium Place has 256 luxury one- to three-bedroom units ranging in size from 775 square feet to 2,360 square feet, including 14 penthouses with private terraces. Condo prices range from $750,000 to $3.5 million, and more than 85 percent of the units have already been sold as the complex's first residents moved in this week.

There are 61 units on the more desirable Washington Street side that overlooks the Ritz Carlton Residences and the iconic Paramount Theater sign, but only six are still available. We took a look at one of these, Unit 2B, a three-bedroom, three-bath, second-floor unit that's going for $1,935,000.

The building has a distinctive exterior of staggered glass bays and beige brick, and the lobby continues the black rectangular window theme with black marble flooring, a white marble concierge desk and floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking a rear urban greenspace. Upstairs, the common hallways are carpeted and feature sconce lighting, and units have recessed entrances with quarter-sewn walnut doors.

The door opens into an oak hallway that leads to an open kitchen/dining/living area that has white ivory oak floors, 9-foot ceilings and recessed lighting.

The kitchen area features 20 self-closing walnut cabinets, with cashmere white granite countertops and a glass-mosaic tile backsplash. There's an island with a built-in ULine wine cooler. Other appliances include cabinet-enclosed G.E. Monogram refrigerator and Bosch dishwasher as well as a Bosch gas stovetop and Bosch oven below.

The dining/living area has a gas fireplace with black granite surround as well as a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows in a bay that projects outward, offering a panoramic three-sided view up and down Washington Street and up Avery Street to the Boston Common.

To the right of the living area is a carpeted master bedroom suite with a good-sized bedroom overlooking Washington Street. The suite has four closets, including a walk-in. The en-suite master bathroom is done in luxurious Eastern white marble floors, walls and surround for a deep soaking tub and a glass-doored steam shower. There's a creme marble-topped walnut vanity with two sinks.

Off the center hallway are the unit's other two bedrooms. The second bedroom is decent-sized with side alley views, and has an en-suite taupe and white porcelain tile bathroom with a walk-in shower and an ivory pearl marble-topped wood vanity.

The third carpeted bedroom, which would work well as a home office, is on the small side. There is a third bathroom across the hall with taupe and white porcelain tile, a walk-in shower and an ivory pearl marble-topped wood vanity.

Also along the hallway is a closet that holds a stacked Bosch washer and dryer.

Unit 2B comes with one garage parking space, with vehicles brought up by valet. The $1,923 monthly condo fee is near the $1 per square foot that top buildings typically assess, but most of the substantial amenities are included, including the free year's membership at the Sports Club/LA.

Broker: Potential buyers who wish to schedule an appointment can email bostonlives@mplaceboston.com or call 617-542-1555

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