Biz Bits

Tropicana prices to rise after deep freeze

NEW YORK --- Pepsico Inc. is raising prices on its popular Tropicana orange juice because of the deep freeze that hurt much of Florida's citrus crop.

The company said Wednesday it is shrinking its most popular size by about 8 percent -- while maintaining its price -- and raising the price on another size starting in May.

The 64-ounce container of orange juice drops to 59 ounces. The suggested retail price remains at $3.59.

The price of Tropicana's gallon container of pure premium orange juice will rise between 5 percent and 8 percent. Right now it costs $6.49.

Citrus growers in Florida -- the nation's top orange producer -- are hurting because of deep freezes this winter. This year's orange crop is expected to be 19 percent smaller than last year's, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday.

Mexican tops Forbes' list of world's richest

MEXICO CITY --- Mexico's Carlos Slim, the son of an immigrant shopkeeper who amassed a $53.5 billion fortune and bought a major stake in the New York Times, became the first person from a developing nation to be named the world's richest person.

Slim, a telecom magnate, edged out U.S. billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffet to earn the top spot on Forbes' list of the world's richest people -- the first time a non-American has topped the list since 1994.

The jump in position comes after a year in which Slim's cell phone holdings rebounded in value.