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The DSL Forum announced new broadband and IPTV statistics at the Broadband World Forum Europe in Berlin. The statistics, prepared for the DSL Forum by industry analyst Point Topic, show that the number of people using IPTV services increased by 179 per cent in the 12 months to 30 June 2007. On the broadband access side, DSL continues to dominate with almost 66 per cent of subscribers using this technology.

The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence, which had declined to 45 in the second quarter of 2007, edged down to 44 in the third quarter. A reading of more than 50 points reflects more positive than negative responses. The survey includes about 100 business leaders in a wide range of industries.

Employment rose in September, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 4.7 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported. Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 110,000 following increases of 93,000 in July and 89,000 in August (as revised). In September, health care, food services, and professional and technical services continued to add jobs, while employment trended down in manufacturing and construction. Average hourly earnings rose by 7 cents, or 0.4 percent.

New data has revealed six distinct consumer payment segments, according to a survey released by First Data’s STAR® Network. The 2006/2007 Consumer Payments Usage and Segmentation Study includes a segmentation analysis of specific market groups based on their payment tendencies at the point of sale. The six segments found in the research include the signature debit, PIN debit, cash/PIN debit, cash, check and credit card segments. The segments - determined by an analysis of payment behavior, demographics, attitudinal characteristics, payment preference and value-based characteristics - provide a new way to look at the point of sale payments landscape.

E-commerce spending in the United States is expected to grow 18% in 2007 to $259 billion, reflecting increased consumer comfort with online shopping. That is almost $1 of every $10 spent across all retail channels. But with such growth comes higher shopper expectations.

The Asia-Pacific region includes economies at polar opposites of the online development spectrum. Australia, Japan and South Korea have advanced digital infrastructures with mature e-commerce and online travel sectors, according to Jeffrey Grau, eMarketer senior analyst and author of the new report, Asia-Pacific Online Travel: Focus on China and India.

When making choices to protect your business, yourself and your family, the subject of insurance can cause confusion, says Frank N. Darras, the nation's leading disability and long-term care insurance lawyer.

The 2007 edition of the European Commission's annual scoreboard of companies' spending on research and development (R&D) shows that corporate R&D has increased by 10%, with EU-based companies increasing their R&D investment by 7.4%. This compares to 5.3% growth reported in the 2006 edition. The scoreboard also shows an upward trend in companies' profitability all over the world. The world's biggest investor in R&D in the 2007 Scoreboard is Pfizer of the US, with €5.8 billion. The top EU company is DaimlerChrysler of Germany with €5.2 billion.

The latest composite leading indicators (CLIs) suggest that a moderation in economic expansion lies ahead in the OECD area. August 2007 data show weakening performance in the CLI’s six month rate of change in all the major seven economies. The latest data for major OECD non-member economies point to moderating expansion in China, India and Brazil, but an improved outlook for Russia.

The current commitments made under the Kyoto Protocol for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions run to 2012. Ahead of December's UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, MEPs in the Climate Change Temporary Committee heard on Thursday from representatives of major economies and international bodies on what should be done after 2012.