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Employers took 1,586 mass layoff actions in November involving 152,816 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Each mass layoff involved at least 50 persons from a single employer. The number of mass layoff events in November decreased by 65 from the prior month, while the number of associated initial claims increased by 4,757. In November, 354 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector, seasonally adjusted, resulting in 39,465 initial claims. Over the month, the number of manufacturing events decreased slightly, while associated initial claims increased by 2,027.

The economy remains the number one priority on the global stage. More than half of participants in a new global survey by Survey Sampling International (SSI) cite "improving the economy" as the most important issue to tackle in 2011. Members of SSI's online research panels in 8 countries chose the economy as their top concern from a list of 8 issues, including reforming healthcare, preserving the environment, preventing terrorism, reforming education, monitoring the food industry, improving relations with other countries and preparing for natural disasters. Respondents from Japan (71%) and the US (70%) are most focused on today's economic challenges.

When it comes to their jobs, one-quarter of Americans are most thankful for job stability this holiday season, according to data released in a survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Heald College. The survey asked employed Americans to identify what they were most grateful for in their work life – other than pay.

In October 2010, the amount outstanding of shares/units issued by euro area investment funds other than money market funds was EUR 62 billion higher than in September 2010. This increase was due almost equally to increases in share/unit prices and to net issues of shares/units.

In the case of new or used car purchases or leases, Autobytel’s most recent What’s Hot Now report reveals that consumers are looking to lease or buy a car out of necessity over the next 12 months, even though they may not have increased confidence in the economy.

comScore, a leader in measuring the digital world, reported holiday season retail e-commerce spending for the first 49 days of the November – December 2010 holiday season. For the holiday season-to-date, $28.36 billion has been spent online, marking a 12-percent increase versus the corresponding days last year. The most recent week (week ending Dec. 19) reached $5.5 billion in spending, an increase of 14 percent versus the corresponding week last year. The final shopping weekend before Christmas reached $900 million in retail e-commerce spending, representing a strong 17-percent growth rate versus last year.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for Mexico increased 1.5 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index ® (CEI) increased 0.4 percent in October.

A third of America’s small business owners are using smart phones these days, and most of them are putting the devices to work for business needs beyond e-mail and phone calls, according to a recent survey from Discover.

Findings from a new GfK Roper Poll, conducted on behalf of SapientNitro, part of Sapient, demonstrate that American consumers are increasingly empowered by their mobile devices when it comes to researching products and finding the best prices while holiday shopping.

Mortgage rates pulled back slightly this week, with the average rate on the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate receding to 4.96 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.46 discount and origination points.