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RONIN has polled nearly 1,500 companies across twelve countries on how the recession is impacting their companies and it reveals that there has been little change in sentiment in the past 12 months. Throughout the period, 87% of companies have been negatively impacted, with 48% being "strongly" or "extremely" negatively impacted.

Consumer confidence in consumer electronics climbed in March as confidence in the overall economy continued to drop, according to the latest figures released today from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® and CNET.

Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed or slightly higher in February. Twenty-seven states recorded over-the-month unemployment rate increases, 7 states and the District of Columbia registered rate decreases, and 16 states had no rate change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Over the year, jobless rates increased in 46 states and the District of Columbia and declined in 4 states. The national unemployment rate in February, 9.7 percent, remained unchanged from January, but was up from 8.2 percent a year earlier.

According to a new survey, social responsibility remains a high priority for consumers, regardless of the recession. The second annual Corporate Social Responsibility Perceptions Survey, conducted by research-based consultancy Penn Schoen Berland in partnership with brand consulting firm Landor Associates and strategic communications firm Burson-Marsteller, analyzed consumer views of companies operating across 14 industries ranging from Apparel to Telecommunications. The survey finds that more than 75 percent of consumers say that it is important for companies in each of the industries tested to be socially responsible.

There is little spring optimism in the hearts of more than half of America’s small business owners, who see conditions for their businesses getting worse in the next six months, according to the Discover® Small Business WatchSM. After some upward trends for most of last summer and into the fall, Discover’s monthly check on the pulse of small business owners measured 75.7 in March, down 9.2 points from February and back to the levels of a year ago.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the Euro Area increased 0.7 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) remained unchanged in February.

In March, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) improved significantly, reaching 99.6 (+2.0 points) in the EU and 97.7 (+1.8) in the euro area. After the pause recorded in February, the upward trend appears to have regained its momentum. The ESI is now close to its long-term average, albeit it will still require further improvement for the economic activity to reach its pre-crisis level.

Small businesses continued to hire more employees in March, extending a trend that began in mid-2009. The monthly Small Business Employment Index from Intuit Inc., shows that employment for small businesses grew slightly more in March than in February.

Most Americans - 59 percent - believe Congress and the President need to reform our financial system now, according to a national poll commissioned by the Pew Financial Reform Project and conducted by a bipartisan team consisting of The Mellman Group and Ayres, McHenry & Associates.

Innovation, education and more competition in the domestic market would help Germany emerge from the economic crisis with a stronger and more balanced economy. Labor market policy should now pave the way for necessary structural changes while fiscal policy needs a specific exit strategy with focus on consolidating public finances over the coming years. These are the key policy recommendations from the OECD’s latest Economic Survey of Germany.