Regional and state unemployment rates were mostly higher in October. Overall, 38 states and the District of Columbia recorded over-the-month unemployment rate increases, 5 states registered decreases, and 7 states had no change, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported.
In October, employers took 2,140 mass layoff actions, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported.
As the economy continues to reel, a new report finds that 4 million American households lost economic security between 2000 and 2006, and that a majority of America's middle class households are either borderline or at high risk of falling out of the middle class altogether.
AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company announced results of an October 2008 study that revealed the consumer attitudes and behaviors of Americans have shifted rather dramatically in the past six months. Among the most notable results, almost eight in 10 of those polled (78%) ranked income guarantees as a top financial priority, up 16 percentage points from a similar AXA Equitable poll conducted in April.
Despite the expected cutbacks in holiday spending, more shoppers will hit the malls this Black Friday than last, according to Consumer Reports latest holiday shopping poll. More than a quarter (26%) of consumers plan to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving - up 5 percentage points from the 21 percent that shopped on Black Friday in 2007.
Corporate America's economic woes are painting a bull's eye on the travel industry, according to a recent survey. It's not about vacationers opting to stay home. It's all about businesses cutting costs, and business travel may very well be the bread and butter of the travel industry.
comScore, Inc. released its monthly analysis of U.S. consumer activity at the top online properties for October 2008 based on data from the comScore Media Metrix service. The U.S. presidential election, Halloween and the approaching holiday season were significant drivers of Internet traffic for the month.
More than three-quarters of US online adults made a purchase over the Web in the previous six months, according to a November 2008 study by Nielsen Online.
Global broadband subscribers have now reached the significant milestone of 400 million, according to a report prepared for the Broadband Forum by industry analysts, Point Topic.
Four out of five college students and young graduates are looking to make extra money or gain experience during the holidays, according to the annual Holiday Jobs Survey conducted by Experience, Inc., the nation’s leading provider of career services for college students and young alumni.
