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U.S. employers plan to maintain a stable, yet cautious approach toward hiring in the final quarter of 2007, according to the seasonally adjusted results of the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey conducted quarterly by Manpower Inc.

Tenant demand now outstrips supply in all areas of the rental market, even as private landlords continue to invest in the sector. This is revealed in the latest quarterly survey of ARLA member letting agents just published.

According to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, fourth-quarter hiring expectations are mostly positive, but with varying degrees of optimism across the 27 countries and territories surveyed. Employers in seven countries are reporting their most optimistic hiring plans since the survey began in these countries: Japan, Germany, India, Sweden, Australia, Costa Rica and Peru.

Based on an update for the seven largest Member States in the European Union, the Commission forecasts economic growth in 2007 at 2.8% in the EU and 2.5% in the euro area. This represents a downward revision of 0.1 percentage points (pp.) compared with the spring forecast. European growth is expected to remain supported by sound fundamentals and a still favourable global environment. Nevertheless, the recent turbulence has clearly increased the downward risks to this outlook. On the inflation front, consumer prices in 2007 are expected to increase by 2.2% in the EU and 2.0% in the euro area (up by 0.1 pp. compared with the spring) as higher commodity prices take their toll.

Soaring rates of domestic oil consumption will reduce crude exports from OPEC, Russia and Mexico by 2.5 million barrels per day by the end of this decade, predicts a new CIBC World Markets study. Currently these countries account for roughly 60 per cent of global production.

JupiterResearch has found that growth in online spending by small businesses remains strong. Detailed in a new report, "US Online Small Business Market Category Forecast, 2007 to 2012," the total online expenditures by small businesses is expected to top $70 billion by the year 2012, up from $47 billion in 2006.

Online job activity grew in the UK in August as the Monster Employment Index UK gained two points, bouncing back from a dip in July. This increase was caused mainly by significant growth in the arts, entertainment, sports and leisure; and administrative, organisation sectors. Regionally, the South West and North England saw the largest increases in online job demand, whilst Northern Ireland and East Anglia declined most. Overall, the Index reached 167 points, up 30 percent since August last year.

Nearly 97% of small-business owners expect their e-commerce revenue to stay the same or increase during the next one to two years, according to a Small Business Research Board study.

Global Insight released the 2007 second-quarter update of House Prices in America, the U.S. housing-valuation analysis, which shows the incidence of overvaluation in the nation's housing market continues to decline, the result of falling home prices. Nationally, home prices are up year-over-year just 2.6%, the weakest gain since 1995.

According to a new study by BDO Seidman, LLP, chief financial officers (CFOs) at leading U.S. retailers are predicting 5.6 percent growth for 2007. Close to half (47%) of the CFOs cited high fuels costs as the issue having the greatest impact on consumer confidence in the first half of 2007. However, looking forward to the balance of the year, there was less agreement among the CFOs on the main issue that will impact consumer confidence. High fuel costs (29%) and the weak housing market (25%) were cited by at least one-quarter of these executives, while interest rates (19%) and the sub-prime lending crisis (15%) were also mentioned by a number of CFOs.