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comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, released data from the comScore MobiLens service, reporting key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry during the three month average period ending July 2010 compared to the preceding three-month average. The report ranked the leading mobile original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and smartphone operating system (OS) platforms in the U.S. according to their share current mobile subscribers age 13 and older, and reviewed the most popular activities and content accessed via the subscriber’s primary mobile phone. The July report found Samsung to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 23.1 percent market share, while RIM led among smartphone platforms with 39.9 percent market share.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for Spain increased 0.4 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) remained unchanged in July.

Mortgage rates moved lower this week, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate retreating to 4.54 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.37 discount and origination points.

Real-life lessons in frugal living continue to influence the financial habits of middle-class families, with roughly half of back-to-school shoppers planning to cut spending again this year.

The number of persons employed in the euro area (EA16) and in the EU27 was stable in the second quarter of 2010 compared with the previous quarter, according to national accounts estimates published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the first quarter of 2010, employment was also stable in the euro area and declined by 0.2% in the EU27. These figures are seasonally adjusted.

U.S. import prices increased 0.6 percent in August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, after rising 0.1 percent the previous month. Higher fuel and nonfuel prices contributed to the overall advance. Export prices rose 0.8 percent in August after declining 0.2 percent in July and 0.7 percent in June.

Euro area annual inflation was 1.6% in August 2010, down from 1.7% in July. A year earlier the rate was -0.2%. Monthly inflation was 0.2% in August 2010.

The median number of years that wage and salary workers had been with their current employer was 4.4 in January 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. This measure, referred to as employee tenure, was 4.1 years in January 2008. The increase in tenure among those at work reflects, in part, relatively large job losses among less-senior workers in the most recent recession.

With mobile penetration in the US estimated by eMarketer at nearly 80% this year, and the increasing sophistication of handsets, there is a mature mobile market with a critical mass of users increasingly receptive to marketing and content. As the space becomes more important for marketers’ efforts, they must keep pace with the changing scene.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for Korea declined 0.7 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index®(CEI) increased 0.6 percent in July.