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The encouraging news regarding the economy may be easing hiring fears, as employers signal an increase in their plans to hire in the new year, according to CareerBuilder's 2010 Job Forecast. While employers continue to closely monitor the progress of recovery for the U.S. economy, they are beginning to consider hiring strategies designed to preserve the health and growth of their businesses for the future. CareerBuilder surveyed more than 2,700 hiring managers and human resource professionals nationwide across industries.

The annual rate of change of M3 decreased to -0.2% in November 2009, from 0.3% in October 2009. The three-month average of the annual growth rates of M3 over the period September 2009 - November 2009 decreased to 0.6%, from 1.6% in the period August 2009 - October 2009.

Data through October 2009, released by Standard & Poor's for its S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, show that the annual rate of decline of the 10-City and 20-City Composites improved compared to last month's reading. This marks approximately nine months of improved readings in these statistics, beginning in early 2009.

The Conference Board Leading Economic IndexTM (LEI) for the Euro Area increased 0.7 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic IndexTM (CEI) decreased 0.1 percent in November.

As if the global recession, struggling housing market and high unemployment numbers weren’t enough, market research firm Mintel reveals that Americans increasingly fret about having their identities stolen.

Economic confidence among America’s small business owners was steady in December as fewer of them think the U.S. economy is getting worse compared to November, and more see conditions for their own businesses getting better in the next six months, according to the Discover® Small Business WatchSM. The Watch index improved slightly in December to 77.0 from 76.5 in November.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had increased in November, rose again in December. The Index now stands at 52.9 (1985=100), up from 50.6 in November. The Expectations Index increased to 75.6 from 70.3 last month. The Present Situation Index, however, declined to 18.8 from 21.2 in November.

From January to November, the industrial enterprises above designated size (all state-owned enterprises and non-state-owned enterprises with an annual sales over 5 million yuan, same as follow) reached 2,589.1 billion yuan, rose by 7.8 percent year-on-year.

The weekly average rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace for 30-year fixed mortgages increased sixteen basis points last week to 4.93 percent, up from 4.77 percent the week prior, according to the Zillow Mortgage Rate Monitor, compiled by leading real estate Web site Zillow.com®. Rates for 15-year fixed mortgages rose thirteen basis points to 4.37 percent from 4.24 percent, and 5-1 adjustable rate mortgages increased thirteen basis points to 3.98 percent, from 3.85 percent the week prior.

Global airline capacity for December 2009 shows positive growth compared to December 2008, reports OAG, the world's leading aviation data business with its monthly report on trends in the supply of airline flights and seats. There are 294.8 million seats available this month, a rise of 4% over December 2008 levels. Global frequencies are up 1% compared to December 2008, with a total of 2.4 million flights scheduled for December 2009, despite an average North American frequency decline of 2%. Worldwide, frequencies and capacity in the low cost sector are both up by 10% compared to a year ago, accounting for 444,539 flights (18%) and 65.6 million seats (22%).