Wal-Mart to test unlimited shipping for $50 a year

NEW YORK » Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will test a new unlimited shipping service for online shoppers this summer that will be priced below Amazon’s $99 per year Prime service.

Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, said Wednesday that the shipping subscription service will cost customers $50 a year. Products will arrive in three days or less.

Wal-Mart offers a grocery delivery and pickup service in five markets. But the unlimited shipping program marks a substantial commitment and underscores how serious the retailer is about accelerating the growth of its online business, which has seen a slowdown.

The unlimited shipping service was first reported by The Information, a publication that covers the technology industry.

U.S. retail sales unchanged in April

WASHINGTON » U.S. shoppers kept their spending in check in April, as modest wage growth during the past year keeps family budgets tight.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that retail sales were unchanged last month after rising 1.1 percent in March. Sales have risen just 0.9 percent in the past 12 months. Steady hiring has yet to spark significantly higher incomes. The retail sales report also raises the possibility that nasty winter weather can’t entirely explain the recent lackluster consumer spending in prior months, since the anticipated spring rebound has not materialized.

Americans cut back on their purchases at autos dealers, furniture outlets, building supply stores, gas stations, supermarkets and department stores last month. Offsetting those declines were increases in spending at restaurants, clothiers, health-related stores and online retailers.

Chief of Frontier Airlines steps down

DALLAS » The CEO of Denver-based Frontier Airlines resigned and was replaced by the carrier’s chairman and president, who vowed to improve a record of frequent flight delays and customer complaints.

Frontier said Wednesday that Dave Siegel stepped down for personal reasons. Siegel’s departure came the same day that consultants J.D. Power ranked Frontier last in a survey of customer satisfaction. On Monday, the federal government said Frontier had the highest complaint rate and the worst on-time performance among the nation’s 14 leading airlines in March. Frontier said Chairman Bill Franke will manage strategy and finances and President Barry Biffle will handle daily operations.

Facebook seeks better pay for contractors

NEW YORK » Facebook is pushing for higher pay and improved benefits for the janitors, cooks and other workers who support its employees. The online social network is implementing a set of new standards for its U.S.-based contractors who do a "substantial amount of work" with Facebook.

Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, announced the changes in a blog post Tuesday. The new standards include a minimum wage of $15 an hour, at least 15 paid days off a year, and for those who don’t receive paid parental leave, a $4,000 "new child benefit" for new parents.

On The Move

» Diagnostic Laboratory Services has named Erlinda Reyes as laboratory manager at North Hawaii Community Hospital Laboratory on the island of Hawaii. She is a certified medical technologist by the American Society for Clinical Pathology. She was previously a laboratory manager for Quest Diagnostics at Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center and North Vista Hospital, both located in Las Vegas, Nevada.

» Bank of Hawaii has appointed Michael Taylor as the bank’s senior vice president and real estate manager. He previously served as a commercial real estate broker for Commercial Asset Advisors. Prior to that, Taylor worked for Bank of Hawaii from 2011 to 2014 as vice president and real estate manager for Corporate Facilities. Before arriving to Hawaii, he was a commercial real estate broker serving as principal of the Taylor Group as well as vice president at T3 Advisors, both located in Boston, Mass.

Ship Ahoy!

Today’s ship arrivals and departures: