COLUMBUS, Ohio — American Electric Power said Thursday its third- quarter earnings rose 18 percent as rate increases throughout its service area and cost cutting offset continued weak demand for electricity from industrial customers.

But the Columbus-based company said even with electricity sales to industrial customers down 17 percent in the quarter, that is a slight improvement from the second quarter, when sales to industrial customers were down 20 percent. The company also said sales of several large metal customers increased from the second to third quarter.

AEP, which has Indiana Michigan Power as a subsidiary, said it made $443 million, or 93 cents a share, for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with $374 million, or 93 cents a share in the year ago quarter.

MILWAUKEE — General Motors Co. says its money-back guarantee — key to its revival — is going so well it will extend the program into early 2010. The automaker started its “May the Best Car Win” campaign in September as a way to get consumers to try GM cars and trucks with minimal risk.

The program, which offers refunds within 31 to 60 days of purchase, was slated to last two months and end Nov. 30. But it will now last until Jan. 4, 2010.

Jay Spenchian, GM's executive director of the marketing strategy support group, said Thursday that more people are considering GM's four brands — Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick — and few vehicles have been returned.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — If the morning commute interrupts your regular newscast, Chrysler may have a solution — live TV in your car with news, sports and other cable channels.

The company said Thursday that customers can buy the service, called Flo TV, as an option on most of its vehicles starting in December. It includes up to 20 channels.

The cost: $629 plus an installation fee. A one-year subscription service is included. Chrysler is still negotiating over the subscription fee after the first year, but packages could start as low as $9 a month, a spokesman said. Distracted drivers need not worry: The TV system will be integrated into vehicles' DVD system, which has drop-down screens viewable only to passengers in back.