STEVE INSKEEP, host: NPR's business news starts with a stimulus plan for Japan.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: Japan is trying to fend off another recession, and today lawmakers agreed on an $80 billion economic package. The world's second largest economy pulled itself out of recession earlier this year, but now the country's being hit by deflation.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: That's where prices fall so consumers hold off on spending because they think they can get the product cheaper later, and then spending and prices fall further. It's a nasty spiral that dogged Japan throughout the 1990s and skeptics are not sure how much this new stimulus package will help.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: And print media companies are trying to slow their financial descent.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Today, several magazines publishers, including Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp are expected to unveil a joint venture. It's a new company that hopes to create technology standards for how magazines will look on e-readers and other digital devices.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Ads would have a common appearance, as would an online storefront that consumers would use to buy magazines online. The publications want to stay relevant as people shift from reading articles on paper to reading on devices like the Kindle and the iPhone.
Japan's lawmakers have agreed on an $80 billion economic package. The world's second-largest economy pulled itself out of recession earlier this year but is being hit now by deflation. Print media companies are trying to slow their financial descent. Several magazine publishers are expected to unveil a joint venture Tuesday. It's a new company that hopes to create technology standards for how magazines will look on digital devices.