Home prices Among the 20 markets tracked by the Standard & Poor's/Case- Shiller Home Price Index, the Dallas home prices fell the least in September compared to the same month last year, 2.7 percent. Next to Dallas was Charlotte with a price drop of 3.5 percent. In the same group of 20 cities, Phoenix home prices fell the most, 32 percent, followed by Las Vegas (down 31 percent) and San Francisco (down 29.5 percent). Across the country in all markets, home prices dropped 4 percent in the third quarter compared to the same time last year. In S.C. during the same quarter, home prices rose 2.42 percent, according to the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Roads less traveled South Carolinians drove 8.4 percent less in September, the highest decrease in the U.S., compared with September of last year. Vermont had the second highest decrease, 7.9 percent.

Hotel occupancy The Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism reported recently that, so far, Columbia hotel occupancy rate for 2008 is up 1.4 percent compared to 2007, which puts Columbia ahead of all other areas in S.C.

Well worth the $300 per couple It's not until April 18, 7 until midnight, but a big deal at the Columbia Museum of Art is planned with a French theme for the celebration of the Turner to Cezanne exhibition, which opens March 6. Tickets are $150 each in advance, $175 at the door. Call 343.2210 or visit www.columbiamuseum.org.

First Community sells shares to U.S. First Community Bank of Lexington and its parent company completed the sale of $11.4 million in preferred shares to the U.S. Treasury by Friday, November 21. The parent company will pay the federal government $568,000 annually (a 5% dividend) for each of the first five years of the investment and then 9% thereafter, or until the company redeems the shares. Also, as part of the deal, the U.S. Treasury holds 10- year warrants for 195,915 shares of common stock.

Discount deadline extended The S.C. trade mission to the United Arab Emirates, organized by the S.C. Dept. of Commerce and the U.S. Commercial Service, is still scheduled for March 20- 28 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. But the deadline to register with a discounted fee (manufacturer, $800, increases to $1,500 after the deadline; service company, $1,500, increases to $2,200 after the deadline) has been extended to December 7. Final registration closes December 19. Call Gregory Guest, 737.0651.

Darlington gains investment Over the next five years, Nucor Corp. plans to invest $45 million at its Nucor Steel South Carolina steel mill in Darlington. Using recycled steel, Nucor's Darlington mill produces structural angles and channels, re- bars, hot rolled bars, and light shapes. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Nucor makes more steel in the U.S. than any other company.

Fastest growing Accounting firm Elliott Davis LLC and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce announced on Thursday, November 13, the winners of the 2008 competition for South Carolina's Fastest Growing Companies. Among the 25 fastest growing companies in the state, top place was taken by 2AM Group, an automotive manufacturer in Duncan. First runner- up was Mercom Corporation, an information technology company in Pawleys Island. Second runner- up was Dutchman Global, a Florence- based construction company. Columbia- area companies included in the state's 25 fastest growing: (10) Arnold Construction; (13) Springdale Outdoor; (21) VC3; (22) Southeastern Equipment and Supply Inc.