Kellogg laying off workers Business briefs

Breakfast cereal giant Kellogg Co. is closing two Pennsylvania sales offices, one in the RIDC Park on Technology Drive in O’Hara that employs 211 and the other in Montgomery County, affecting 292 positions. In a filing with the state, the Michiganbased Kellogg said the closings, first announced in February, were the result of a change in its snacks sales and distribution model. The last full day for workers at the Pittsburgh-area facility will be in early August.

Noble Energy laying off 99

Noble Energy Inc., a Texasbased oil and gas company that became a significant player in the Marcellus Shale through a joint venture with Cecil-based Consol Energy Inc. in 2011, is closing up shop and laying off 99 workers in Canonsburg by end of September. Earlier this month, Noble sold all of its Marcellus Shale holdings in

southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia, and its interest in a midstream venture for a combined total of nearly $2 billion. Its joint venture with Consol dissolved last year.

Survey finds tight labor markets, rising wages

The economy kept growing in April through late May, with more regions citing worker shortages across a widening range of occupations, the Federal Reserve reported. In its latest survey of economic conditions nationwide, the Fed found that most of its 12 regions viewed economic growth as moderate to modest rates. Two districts — Boston and Chicago — said growth had slowed, while New York said business activity had “flattened out.” Businesses reported labor markets continued to tighten, and many firms were offering higher wages where shortages were most severe. The information in the Fed’s survey will be used when Fed officials meet June 13-14. The Fed is expected to raise a key interest rate at the meeting.

Google expands paid carpooling across Calif.

Google is expanding its paid carpool service throughout California, building on an effort to get more traffic-weary drivers to share their rides to work — and to collect data that could be useful for future transportation services. The move by Google’s Waze unit, best known for its navigation and traffic monitoring app, extends the year-old carpooling service outside its initial markets of northern California and Israel. Waze connects drivers and riders with similar commutes based on their home and work addresses. Riders request carpool rides in advance, but aren’t guaranteed matches.