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A new study from international research firm Parks Associates finds consumer demand for networking features will drive the next wave of consumer electronics purchasing, particularly for imaging and mobile devices such as digital cameras, photo frames, and mobile phones.

CareerBuilder.com released the results of its latest survey, conducted by Harris Interactive(R), tracking projected hiring trends for 2009. The survey, titled "2009 Job Forecast," was conducted from November 12 through December 1, 2008 among 3,259 hiring managers and human resource professionals in private sector companies.

The annual rate of growth of M3 decreased to 7.8% in November 2008, from 8.7% in October 2008. The three-month average of the annual growth rates of M3 over the period September 2008 - November 2008 decreased to 8.4%, from 8.7% in the period August 2008 - October 2008.

The latest Bloomberg Euro-Zone Retail Purchasing Managers' Index, based on a mid-month survey of economic conditions in the euro area retail sector, signaled a further sharp drop in sales in the important trading month of December. Margins fell at a record rate. Retailers' expectations of meeting sales targets next month collapsed to a new low. Meanwhile, wholesale price pressures eased to a three-year low.

Multinational Monitor magazine has released its annual list of the 10 worst corporations of the year. The companies on the list are: AIG, Cargill, Chevron, Constellation Energy, CNPC, Dole, General Electric, Imperial Sugar, Philip Morris International and Roche.

Mortgage rates increased slightly last week for the first time since early November. The weekly average rates for 30-year fixed mortgages increased to 5.07 percent, up from 4.96 percent the week prior, according to the Zillow Mortgage Rate Monitor, compiled by leading real estate Web site Zillow.com(R).

The most critical task for the Obama administration, according to members of the Turnaround Management Association responding to an annual forecast poll, is to take steps that will overcome consumer fear and credit paralysis.

Unite, Britain's biggest union is calling on Gordon Brown to make his new year's resolution a commitment to close down the tax havens and give Britain back GBP33bn a year.

Consumer spend at the major online retailers is likely to fall far short of the industry's expectations, according to leading European online payments system, Moneybookers.

After ten years of development, China's DVD player market has entered a mature period. The sales volume of China's DVD player market maintained growth during 2003 and 2006, but the growth rate has slowed down. The sales volume of China's DVD players had its first drop in 2007, and the market in 2008 continued this trend. In 2008, affected by RMB appreciation, financial crisis, intellectual property fees and patent fees, China's DVD product export experienced unprecedented tests: high labor and expensive raw material costs, the price of DVD players were challenged again, and climate and natural disasters restricted DVD players' transportation and sales.