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This week’s news and trends in China:
KFC Faces Boycott in China Over Meal Toy Promotion: The China Consumers Association (CCA) has called for a boycott of KFC after its promotion this month sent some customers into a buying frenzy.
Shanghai Government Caps Price on ‘Blind Boxes’, Prohibits Sale to Children Aged Below 8: The Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation said the price of a blind box shall not exceed 200 yuan ($31.46) and that sales to children under eight years old are now prohibited. The new laws also restrict speculation in the second-hand market where prices can increase to 20-30 times their original cost. Sale of toxic merchandise, explosives or animals via blind boxes are also banned.
This Chinese Convenience Store Chain Needs to take a Break from its Algorithm Obsession: Bianlifeng, a Beijing-based convenience store chain, recently came under fire for collecting massive personal information without the knowledge of customers and pedestrians. The company stealthily set up cameras in doorways of residential and office buildings, capturing footfall to determine optimal locations for stores. 70-80% of the company’s data is collected by camera. Cameras capture almost every action from customers after entering their stores to assist with decision making. Similarly, staff behaviour is also filmed to improve “store management”. The company has 700 stores and plans to open 10,000 by 2023.
China Venture Funding Hits Record $131 Billion Despite Crackdown: Venture capital investments in China reached $130.6 billion for 2021, despite the crackdown on tech companies. This set a new record for the country – about 50% higher than the $86.7 billion total the year before. Semiconductors, biotech, robotics and enterprise software were among the fastest risers. The US remains streets ahead for investment, attracting a record $296.6 billion in 2021, although China leads in areas such as chipmakers, integrated circuit designers and other semiconductor startups which received $8.8 billion in funding last year, more than six times equivalent companies in the US.
Mainland China’s urban shoppers are spending less on FMCG: In general, the categories that consumers associate with improved quality of life – such as cheese, air fresheners, mouthwash and ready-to-drink coffee – grew at high speed. Categories that were popular during the lockdown months, such as instant noodles, biscuits, disinfectants and hand wash, experienced negative growth. The foundations of future FMCG growth remain strong, including the expanding middle class, and rising ecommerce penetration.
Brands Should Consider China in Metaverse Strategy Even if Beijing Takes Tough Stance: The nature of Chinese consumers to adopt games, social media and new tech innovations point to a market that is likely to embrace the metaverse. Even though there is much speculation about how it will look, brands should consider early moves such as trademarking their brands in relevant classes. As of early January, more than 1,360 Chinese companies had applied to register more than 8,500 metaverse-related trademarks. Just 300 companies had done so 3-months earlier.
The Race to Create a Whisky From China, for Chinese People: Banking on the fast-expanding middle class, Chinese and Western liquor companies are eager to build Chinese whisky brands. But with a years-long wait for each batch, domestic and international suppliers alike are betting on the unknown. Whisky accounted for just 1% of China’s liquor market in 2020, while baijiu took up 96%. Diageo has reached over 12,000 potential Chinese whiskey lovers through a “whisky culture education” institution called Diageo Whisky Academy, and has organised 13 whisky summits across China since 2017.
China Chic Beauty Start-Up Florasis Tops Douyin’s Cosmetics Sales Chart in 2021: D2C beauty brand Florasis, with its traditional Chinese aesthetics topped the Douyin sales chart in the cosmetics category. All but one of the top-10 were domestic brands such as Proya, Kans and Bio-MESO, with South Korea’s Pramy the only non-Chinese brand on the list. Western brands have been slow to capitalise on Douyin opportunities. 80% of brands that had more than ¥100 million ($15.7 million) of sales on Douyin were domestic brands.
Shiseido Enters Strategic Partnership with Tencent: Shiseido has entered a three-year partnership with Tencent to build a D2C (Direct to Consumer) model and strengthen its social commerce business to provide new services to Chinese consumers globally.
How Fashion Can Leverage Blind Box Marketing in China: Many brands are jumping on the trend, yet over 30% of consumers in a recent survey felt that the quality of the products did not reflect the price of the blind box. Luxury brand Lanvin tested the concept during Chinese Valentine’s Day in August, attracting 50,000 players within a month and pushing up Lanvin’s WeChat views five-fold. In 2020, Tommy Hilfiger collaborated with rapper Vava and singer Ma Boqian to create a limited edition blind box.
Uniqlo Parent Expands Automated-Warehouse Network into China: Uniqlo will open a new Shanghai-area facility to serve as a distribution hub for major coastal cities in China in August. Since 2019, its offline and online inventories have been merged in China, meaning that online orders can be shipped from or picked up at a physical store. The automated warehouse will help fulfil online orders even more quickly. A similar initiative in Japan reduced staff by 90% as the global logistic staff shortage bites. 36% of clothes purchased in China are online.
Chinese Consumers Make Move on Travel Plans for 2022: 78% of Chinese travellers are considering outbound trips in the new year, with 55% having a destination in mind and will go ahead once outbound travel is made possible, according to a December 2021 survey. An additional 17% even have a date in mind and are waiting for international restrictions to be lifted; while 5% have started to plan their itinerary. Respondents identified several factors that will inspire the return of their travel confidence, including the safe resumption of international travel for several months (60%), end of quarantine requirements both ways (58%), lifting of China’s restrictions on outbound group tours (41%), and resumption of destinations’ visa issuance (40%). Travellers in China’s second-tier cities are found to be more conservative. Japan was the destination of choice among Chinese respondents favoured by 17%, followed by Thailand and Australia, both on 8%.
China is Pushing for Broader Use of its Digital Currency: China’s Digital Yuan, or e-CNY, can now be used on WeChat Pay or Alipay and is accepted on JD.com. The currency is also available to visitors at the Beijing Olympics with ATM machines that can convert foreign currencies to the Digital Yuan.
What Luxury Brands Can Learn From Chinese Tea Chains: Tea chains like Hey Tea and Nayuki Tea offer examples of reaching maximum consumers via lower-key marketing methods including clever collaborations, real-life spokespeople, and thought-out nostalgia.


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20th July 2022 – The number of UK sectors reporting greater output increased in June, according to the latest Lloyds Bank UK Sector Tracker. However, businesses across the economy saw weaker demand as inflation dampened customer spending.
In June, nine out of the 14 sectors monitored by the Tracker reported activity up, compared to eight in May and 11 in April.
June’s higher output was supported primarily by businesses working through backlogs of existing work, rather than growing demand. However, nine of the 14 sectors monitored by the Tracker saw new orders contract in June, one higher than in May (eight) and the highest number since January 2021.
Weaker demand was reported across both services (51.6 in June vs. 54.2 in May) and manufacturing businesses (48.3 in June vs. 51.1 in May). Goods producers were particularly hard-hit, recording the first fall in new orders after 16 consecutive months of growth. A reading on the Tracker above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 indicates contraction
Input price inflation slows for first time this year
Although overall input costs continued to rise for UK businesses in June, the rate of increase softened, signifying the first slowdown in cost inflation so far this year. The Tracker registered a reading of 84.5, down from May’s record high of 85.9.
Slower input cost inflation has reduced pressure on firms to raise their own prices. The Tracker’s measure of inflation in prices charged to customers dropped to 68.2 – from 69.2 in May – to reach its lowest level since February 2022 (65.4).
In fact, the Tracker’s data also suggested that, in the seven sectors that did see stronger price inflation, those costs were not passed on to customers in full.
Employment momentum eases, as confidence levels fall
While 11 of the 14 sectors monitored by the Tracker registered overall employment growth in June, seven of these did so at a slower pace than in May, indicating a loss of hiring momentum.
Three sectors, transportation (47.3), chemical manufacturing (48.6) and food and drink manufacturing (43.0), reported that overall headcount levels had fallen.
This slowdown in hiring came as businesses expressed their lowest expectations of future output growth (63.9) since May 2020.
Optimism about future output growth has fallen every month since February, and June’s figure signals an expectation from companies surveyed that activity will slow considerably over the 12 months ahead.
Jeavon Lolay, Head of Economics and Market Insight at Lloyds Bank Corporate and Institutional Banking, said: “While it is encouraging to see UK economic activity holding up better in June, our data also shows clear signs that demand is weakening across a range of sectors.
“Perhaps tellingly, most sectors we monitor reported a further deterioration in business expectations for the year ahead as high inflation increasingly takes its toll on households and firms.
“Our report suggests that concerns about demand are starting to outweigh a still intense pricing environment for many businesses. Despite cost pressures escalating, firms across a range of sectors chose not to increase their prices in June, perhaps for fear of weakening demand further. While this is positive news for inflation watchers, like the Bank of England, the growth picture looks challenging.”
Scott Barton, Managing Director, Lloyds Bank Corporate and Institutional Banking, said: “Although input cost inflation has eased, pressures remain acute compared to historical trends.
“Businesses will need to continue to keep a strong focus on their working capital to ensure they’re able to respond to new opportunities and manage potential downturns in trading. Funds locked in unsold stock, or unpaid invoices is money that can’t be quickly accessed for growth.
“This will be more important than ever in the face of current demand profiles. Not only will this affect potential revenue streams but could also result in firms having more money held in working capital than demand requires. Carefully managing this, along with input cost requirements, will be key.”

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LVMH, the world’s biggest luxury goods retailer, is suing U.S. bank Morgan Stanley for 100 million euros ($99 million) over alleged unfair stock analysis.
“LVMH confirms it has filed a suit against Morgan Stanley,” a company spokesman said, adding it contained a damages claim for 100 million euros.
The retailer claims Morgan Stanley’s research was influenced by its banking relationship with rival fashion house and retailer Gucci Group. Morgan Stanley was an underwriter of Gucci’s 1995 initial public offering and has advised the company since.
“LVMH is unhappy with Morgan Stanley’s research and alleges unfair treatment,” Morgan Stanley, the world’s second largest securities firm, said in a statement on Monday.
“Morgan Stanley categorically rejects LVMH’s claim and stands by the integrity of its research. Morgan Stanley intends to defend this suit vigorously.”
LVMH sold its stake in Gucci to French retailer Pinault Printemps Redoute after it abandoned a long-running ambition to take control of the Italian fashion house. LVMH Chairman Bernard Arnault and PPR’s owner Francois Pinault, both self-made billionaires, first locked horns in 1999 after Gucci’s head Domenico De Sole called in Pinault to protect it from a takeover from LVMH.
LVMH’s move comes as regulators, like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and separate states, probe alleged stock research abuse. A number of firms could be hit with fines of more than $1 billion for their involvement in alleged tainted research, which has been slanted to please corporate executives and win investment-banking business.
Merrill Lynch & Co paid $100 million earlier this year to settle charges of misleading research from New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who has led the charge for regulators.
Damaging e-mails, including some in which analysts privately disparaged stocks they had publicly recommended, have been uncovered at Citigroup Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. and the Credit Suisse First Boston unit of Swiss-owned Credit Suisse Group.
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Meat is meat, and man must eat! We humans certainly have a growing appetite for beef. Fifty years ago global consumption was around 10m tonnes, with current annual consumption now at nearly 26m tonnes. That means that today we consume on average 6kg of beef per person every year.
“Chicken or Beef?”
Our taste in meat has also changed over the same period. Beef used to be the meat of choice in the 1960s, accounting for 40% of meat consumption, but its share has fallen to around 25%. Today – pig and poultry is the beast of choice, driven by advances in battery farming and Western diet changes. In addition, the rise of populous middle-income countries such as China, India and Russia are driving the worldwide demand for meat in outright volume, influencing the trend away from beef.
The real Beefeaters
The traditional Western countries still eat the most per capita, and surprisingly Hong Kong tops the list, eating on average 56kg per year (that’s about a burger a day). The Argentines remain keen beef-eaters (44kg), as do the Americans (24kg). Naturally the cow-revering Indians are some of the lowest consuming beef eaters globally - eating only 1.2kg of beef. Ironically India is the world biggest exporter of beef; and now earns India more export dollars than basmati rice (though truth be told it’s driven by buffalo meat – which falls outside local cultural beliefs).
Here in South Africa we consume 10.7kg annually, ranking 21st globally.
Whiles it’s generally true that wealthier nations consume more meat on average; some meat lovers buck that trend. Brazil for example – consume more meat per capita than the USA, despite a GDP per capita one fifth that of the Americans.
So...what does Marty McFly say?
So the future of meat consumption will always be entwined with consumers, and our ever-changing environment will drive production and consumption. The current negative world population growth is almost irrelevant; as transportation and global access expands, the consumer base also increases.
While there are more people with increased income levels, we also see marked increases in obesity and other associated health concerns. And we’re seeing a more ethnically diverse population that demands how markets distribute and sell meat. Meat-eaters have also fallen foul of environmental experts, as around 20 percent of the Earth's greenhouse gas emissions are linked to worldwide livestock farming. In contrast, emissions from cars, trains, boats and planes combined accounted for around 13 percent.
Let’s just hope our eastern relatives don’t start developing a love of the beef!


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Outside the United States
At the start of the week, inflation figures were in the spotlight.
In August, the annual core inflation rate fell from 4.3% to 4.0% against 4.2% expected. Although lower than expected, 4% continued to be well above the 2% target of the FED, leaving a tapering on the table.
By midweek, the NY Empire State’s industrial production and manufacturing numbers were positive for the market.
On Thursday, however, retail sales, the Philly FED manufacturing PMI and jobless claims numbers were more interesting.
In August, retail sales rose 0.7% from an expected decline of 0.2%. Core retail sales jumped 1.8% from a decline of 0.1%. In July, retail sales fell 1.1% and core retail sales fell 0.4%.
Manufacturing figures were also bullish, with the Philly Fed’s manufacturing PMI rising from 19.4 to 30.7 in September.
Unemployment claims figures did not impress, however, with the remaining less than 300,000 elusive. In the week ending 10e In September, the first jobless claims rose from 312,000 to 332,000. Economists had forecast an increase to 330k.
At the weekend, consumer sentiment improved, albeit moderately. In September, Michigan’s consumer sentiment index fell from 70.3 to 71.0, below the expected 72.0.
Outside the UK
It was also a busy week. The focus of attention was on employment, inflation and retail sales figures. The statistics were biased towards the positive.
In August, the number of claimants fell further by 58.6,000 after dropping to 48.9,000 in July. In July, the unemployment rate fell from 4.7% to 4.6%.
The UK’s annual inflation rate accelerated from 2.0% to 3.25 in August, also providing support to the pound sterling.
At the weekend, however, retail sales disappointed. On a monthly basis, core retail sales fell 1.2% in August, following a 3.2% decline in July. Retail sales fell 0.9% after falling 2.8% in July. Economists had forecast a pick-up in spending.
During the week, the pound fell 0.71% to end the week at $ 1.3741. The week before, the pound had fallen 0.23% to $ 1.3839.
The FTSE100 ended the week down 0.93%, following a loss of 1.53% from the previous week.
Outside the euro zone
The economic data included wage growth, industrial production, trade and final inflation figures for the euro area.
The finalized inflation figures for Spain, France and Italy were also released but had a moderate impact on the euro.
In the 2sd quarter, wages were down 0.4% year-on-year, partially offsetting a 2.1% increase recorded in the previous quarter.
Data on industrial production and trade were positive, however.
Output rose 1.5%, reversing a 0.1% drop from June, with the euro area’s trade surplus falling from â¬ 17.7 billion to â¬ 20.7 billion.
At the end of the week, the finalized inflation figures for the euro zone were in line with the preliminary figures. The euro area’s annual inflation rate accelerated from 2.2% to 3.0% in August.
On the week, the euro fell 0.75% to $ 1.1725. The previous week, the euro had fallen 0.56% to $ 1.1814.
The CAC40 lost 1.40%, the DAX30 and EuroStoxx600 ending the week with respective losses of 0.77% and 0.96%.
For the loonie
The economic data included manufacturing sales, inflation and wholesale sales figures.
The statistics were mixed during the week.
In July, both manufacturing and wholesale sales disappointed with respective declines of 1.5% and 2.1%.
Providing support, however, was an acceleration of the annual inflation rate from 3.3% to 3.5%.
The resumption of inflationary pressures and the rise in oil prices were not enough to support the loonie against the greenback.
In the week ending 17the In September, the loonie fell 0.57% to C $ 1.2764. During the previous week, the loonie had fallen 1.34% to C $ 1.2692.
It was another bearish week for the Australian dollar and the Kiwi dollar.
The Australian dollar fell 1.05% to $ 0.7279, with the Kiwi dollar ending the week down 1.03% to $ 0.7040.
For the Australian dollar
Business and consumer confidence figures were prominent in the 1st half the week.
Despite the latest lockdown measures, the statistics were biased towards the positive.
The NAB Business Confidence Index fell from -8 to -5 in August.
More importantly, the Westpac Consumer Sentiment Index rose 2.0% in September. The index fell 4.4% in August.
However, the employment figures disappointed on Thursday.
In August, full employment fell 68k after falling 4.2k in July. Employment, however, fell 146.3k, compared to an expected decline of 90.0k. In July, employment increased by 2.2k.
According to the ABS,
- The unemployment rate fell from 4.6% to 4.5%, with the participation rate falling from 66.0% to 65.2%.
- Year on year, the number of unemployed has fallen by 298,000.
For the Kiwi Dollar
It was also a mixed week on the economic data front.
2sd GDP figures for the quarter were impressive, with New Zealand’s economy growing 2.8% quarter-over-quarter. The economy had grown more modestly of 1.4% in the previous quarter.
On the negative side, however, there was a drop in the business PMI index from 62.6 to 40.1 in August. The figures reflect the impact of the latest foreclosure measures on production, justifying the RBNZ’s decision to leave the cash rate unchanged.
For the Japanese yen
It has been a relatively quiet week, with negative numbers.
According to final figures, industrial production fell 1.5% in July. Although in line with preliminary figures, this was a partial reversal of a 6.5% jump from June.
In August, Japan’s trade balance fell from a surplus of 439.4 billion yen to a deficit of 635.4 billion yen. Exports rose 26.2% year on year, after increasing 37% in July.
The Japanese yen rose 0.01% to 109.93 yen against the US dollar. During the previous week, the yen had fallen 0.21% to 109.94 yen.
Outside of china
The figures for capital investment and industrial production were in the spotlight in midweek.
There were even more disappointing figures from China for the markets to take into account.
In August, capital investment increased 8.9% year-on-year. This was less than a 10.3% increase in July.
More significantly, industrial production rose 5.3% in August against 6.4% in July.
In the week ending 17the In September, the Chinese yuan fell 0.34% to CNY6.4661. The previous week, the yuan had ended the week up 0.18% to 6.4443 CNY.
The CSI300 and Hang Seng ended the week down 3.14% and 4.90% respectively.


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PokerStars has always been known to try and support the game the website uses in its own brand name. However, not all of the company’s decisions have been good when it comes to launching new products. Not so long ago, PokerStars released a new title by the name of Unfold – a game that offered gamers the opportunity to grab back their mucked card and continue to play.
Of course, it all came at a price – literally and this occasioned much in the way of criticism in the way of the company. Basically, the community disagreed with Unfold’s rules, because the game allowed players who have been eliminated to continue competing in exchange for money. It wasn’t out of fear that someone may actually come back and defeat fellow players.
It had to do with the simple fact that PokerStars was seeking to increase its own rake, even if it dubbed the move as “unprecedented.” All in all, the community saw it as a way to dupe people into paying more and still end up losing while the website just added to its profits. Following the slew of negative feedback, PokerStars has decided to do the honorary thing and shut down [geolink href=”https://www.pokernewsreport.com/unfold-holdem-makes-debut-at-pokerstars-22624″]their recently released Unfold Poker[/geolink] for good.
An initial shutter was expected on September 10, but that date was then pushed back and the game is still lingering on the platform. The news that the game will be shut down came from a credible source too, with PokerStars’ Director of Innovation and Operations Severin Rasset confirming that the product would indeed be phased out and outright removed.
Rasset did not comment on the accusations that PokerStars had simply been trying to boost its own profitability at the expense of unprepared players. Instead, Rasset highlighted the company’s continuous commitment to experiment with new formats and test fresh products so that it may create a unique experience for its customers.
Rasset also conceded that not
every attempt will be a home run, but that would not stop PokerStars from keep trying to develop new modes of plays for its customers.
Unfold first tentatively hit the Danish market on August 1 and following a successful trial, it was quickly rolled out to all other markets operated by the company. PokerStars did anticipate Unfold to be a new and permanent member of the family of games, but in a surprisingly quick-twist of events, the word “permanent” was in fact quickly dropped from the press release.
Working on the Future and Alternatives
Meanwhile, PokerStars has been working on a new replacement for the ill-fortuned Unfold. Known as Six Plus Hold’em, a Short Deck version of the game is now reportedly in the works. The Short Deck has been particularly successful in Asia where Westerners have had an opportunity to try it. Some of the big names of the game testing Short Decks have been Phil Ivey and Tom Dwan who seemed content with the results.
Looking back at 2018, PokerStars has definitely not been twiddling its fingers. The company managed to introduce its Split Hold’em game back in March. The game came with a Double Flop Hold’em feature, which basically led to two flops, two turns, and two rivers later into the game.
Split Hold’em had to go, and it was replaced by Showtime Hold’em, which basically had players who had just mucked their cards reveal the hole cards to the rest of the players on the table, putting anyone after the unfortunate player in a better position. It was finally now the outgoing Unfold that replaced the Showtime Hold’em.


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Income Access to power new affiliate program for Tipico US21st September 2020 9:24 am GMT
Paysafe Group’s digital marketing division Income Access has agreed a deal to power a new affiliate program for Tipico’s upcoming online sports betting and iGaming sites in New Jersey.
Having recently established its US headquarters in Hoboken, Tipico has partnered with Ocean Casino and Resort in Atlantic City to launch online in the United States for the first time, with an affiliate program managed by Income Access’ team of affiliate marketing experts.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Income Access and look forward to the great work the company will be able to produce for our team,” said Adrian Vella, managing director of Tipico’s US business. “As part of our US expansion, we’ve made sure Tipico is aligned with the best in the business, particularly those with deep experience in the regulated New Jersey market.”
Tipico head of US marketing Keith Gormley added: “This partnership will serve as a key piece in our marketing strategy for both our upcoming launch in New Jersey and our expansion into other regulated markets in the US. Through our collaboration, we’re anticipating driving high-quality players into the Tipico sports betting product.”
Income Access senior vice president and general manager Tara Wilson said: “Sports affiliates will soon be able to promote Tipico, a well-known brand in the gaming industry, thanks to our partnership. Both our platform and management services will help affiliates establish a presence in New Jersey, while also encouraging overall program growth.”


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This week in martech
News from Sprinklr, Moxtra, Campaign Monitor, Infutor and the USO.
Sprinklr to partner with Quora
Enterprise CX management platform Sprinklr this week announced a partnership with Q&A website Quora to bring Quora insights to brands and put brands in front of Quora users.
More than 300 million users per month consult Quora, including a high proportion of management level users with high purchasing power. By integrating Quora with its Modern Research tool, Sprinklr will be able to ingest real-time data on Quora content, enabling brands to engage with Quota users, detect brand risk problems, and enhance marketing efforts by understanding questions users are asking about the brand.
Why we care. There’s more to the global social conversation than Facebook and Twitter; combining Quora data with the social data Sprinklr already gathers is an imaginative move.
Gauging the digital resilience of SMBs
The arrival of the pandemic, and the drastic reduction in opportunities for face-to-face engagement with customers, saw SMBs in particular scrambling to enhance their digital offerings. While many consumers instinctively want to support small and local businesses, especially in the time of crisis, they’re also looking for a good digital experience.
A new survey by customer engagement platform Moxtra assessed digital resilience in the small business space. Based on discussions with 1,500 SMB staff members and 1,500 SMB customers, the survey found that:
- Over 90% of SMBs adopted new technologies this year;
- 66% of customers said the pandemic made them more likely to support small businesses; but
- 84% of customers insisted that digital capabilities were a requirement.
Why we care. We’ve seen reports all year about big box retailers and other enterprise-scale corporations profiting under the pandemic, a healthy SMB sector is vital to the economy — and a smart shift to digital could even help level the playing field.
Campaign Monitor releases new features
Email marketing platform Campaign Monitor this week announced the release of two new features, Link Review and My Branded Templates.
Link review provides automated alerts for any broken, missing or incorrect links in outgoing email campaigns. My Branded Templates allows users to automatically set up brand consistency by pulling in logos and colors directly from an input brand URL.
Why we care. Brands are leaning heavily into email to reach customers in this almost-all-digital marketing environment. Consistent branding and fewer errors in content should help generate and maintain engagement.
Bridg CDP adds Infutor identity data
Bridg, a CDP offering focused on brick and mortar retailers and CPG brands, will be ingesting consumer identity data from identity management and resolution platform Infutor. Bridg derives anonymous, privacy-safe profiles from POS transaction data and a proprietary survey of 250 million-plus U.S. consumers. The profiles are appended with purchase history, demographics, socioeconomic and predictive attributes.
Infutor’s contribution will include hashed emails and mobile ad IDs to further help Bridg clients identify and understand their customers.
Why we care. The kind of first-party data platforms like Infutor can add to consumer profiles will be increasingly important as brands and advertisers rely less on cookie-based tracking.
USO uses audience segmentation to plan its holiday virtual events
As the sacrifices of those who paid the ultimate price were recognized on this Pearl Harbor Day this week, the USO continues to show why it has become a leader in hosting virtual events by using audience segmentation to please all demographics with the announcement of its USO Holiday Programming.
The USO has a variety of audiences to satisfy, from military personnel aged 18 to well over 50, to military spouses and their children located all across the globe. The USO is in the middle of their Holiday Military Virtual Programming (MVP) Series through December 11 that features a wide variety of stars including WWE’s Mike “The Miz,” TV star Kristin Cavallari, musician Jessie James Decker and a holiday favorite, “A Christmas Story” star Peter Billingsley.
“We know a lot of military people can’t go home for the holidays, or their family can’t travel to see them, so we have to try to make it up with programming that touches all audiences,” said USO Senior Vice President of Operations, Programs and Entertainment Christopher Plamp.
To further meet audience demand, the USO has started hosting events on Switch. For the annual USO MVP Holiday Special, made famous by Bob Hope which will be broadcast on the USO’s Facebook and YouTube platforms, will star sports legends Rob Gronkowski and Terry Bradshaw as well as Broadway star Idina Menzel, more recently famous for her popular GEICO commercial.
Why we care. Not only is the USO doing work for a good cause, but they are providing an easy and accessible template of how to program virtual events to meet a wide range of audiences.


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FSSAI drafts guidelines for fortification of food, including rice, mik
The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) drafted guidelines for the fortification of food that includes rice, wheat flour, milk, salt and edible oil. CalledFood Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2016, these regulations set the standards for food fortification and encourage the production, manufacture, distribution, sale and consumption of fortified foods.
They also provide for a specific role of FSSAI in the promotion for food fortification and making fortification mandatory.
Calling it a timely intervention,Pawan Kumar Agarwal, chief executive officer, FSSAI, called on the industry to take this effort forward by means of producing and manufacturing affordable fortified foods.
“This would help in overcoming the problem of malnutrition in the country. There have been efforts in the past, but this is a comprehensive plan to fight the challenge of malnutrition in the country. We have drafted the regulations, which will be notified soon,” he stated at a conference on fortification in New Delhi.
Ashish Bahuguna, chairman FSSAI, stated that it was a galvanising effort that would make the stakeholders work in a coordinated manner to ensure nutritional food to all.
“This effort is significant in terms of its impact on society. Alack in the nutritional diet has serious ramifications on the society’s growth and economy of the country,” he said.
Bahuguna added, “It’s a kind of joint venture between various departments and ministries (nine in number) and private entities like the Tata Trust, non-government organisations (NGOs) and international organisations.”
In the draft guidelines, the objective said that it was being done to prevent the risk of deficiency of nutrients in the population and meeting the requirements of recommended intake of essential nutrients.
Manufacturers have to comply with the standards on micronutrient content in fortified food as prescribed by FSSAI. Besides, food business operators have to maintain quality assurance and compliance with the general rules and regulations along with adherence with the packaging and labelling requirement. There is a specific logo for fortified food and the packages should contain that. For salt fortification, the limits are 30 parts per million (ppm)in case of iodine on dry weight basis and 850-1,100ppm in case of iron.For edible oil, vitamin A should be 25 IU per gram of oil and vitamin D should be 4.5 IU per gram of oil.For milk per litre, the levels of Vitamin A should be 770 IU and Vitamin D 550 IU.
For atta per kg, iron should be at 20mg,folic acid at 1,300microgram and Vitamin B12 at 10 microgram. Besides, atta can contain other nutrients like zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamins B1, B2, B6, and niacin nicotinamide.
For rice per kg, the level for fortification include iron at 20mg, folic acid at 1,300microgram and Vitamin B12 at 10microgram. Besides, rice can also have zinc, VitaminB1, B2 and B6 amongst other nutritents.
“The control of micronutrient deficiencies is an essential part of the overarching effort of the government to fight hunger and malnutrition in the country,” saidAnupriya Patel, minister of state for health and family welfare at the inauguration of the National Summit on Fortification of Food to address interventions in combating micronutrient malnutrition in the country.
She stated that food fortification was a proven and effective strategy to meet the nutritional needs of a large number of people across various sections of the society, including the poor and underprivileged as well as the vulnerable, such as pregnant women and young children.
“Fortification requires neither changes in existing food patterns, habits nor individual compliance. It is socio-culturally acceptable and does not alter the characteristics of the food. It can be introduced quickly and can produce nutritional benefits for populations in a short period of time. It is safe and cost-effective, especially if advantage is taken of the existing technology and delivery platforms,” Patel said.
Emphasising the need for food fortification, she said that food fortification reinforced and supported existing nutrition improvement programmes and was part of a broader, integrated approach to prevent micronutrient deficiencies, thereby complementing other approaches to improve health and nutrition.
Patel also released the standards on fortification of foods and launched the food fortification logo at the event.
Speaking on the occasion,Soumya Swaminathan, director general, Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), said that nutrition was a major determinant of health. Sheadded that macro- and micro-nutrient deficiency would lead to risk factors that may cause various diseases like TB, anaemia, etc.
She informed that ICMR planned to conduct health and nutrition a survey to get first-hand insights about the nutritional values of the food consumed by the people of the country. She laid stress on the need to raise awareness and educate people about a balanced diet.
FSSAI co-hosted the two-day summit in partnership with related Central ministries/departments and development partners. The summit brought together experts from the nutrition and development communities, as well as representatives from state governments, academics, technical supporters and donors to beneficiaries past and present to discuss and debate – presenting in-depth analysis and impact assessments, important and case study examples of food fortification programmes as well as learnings and challenges to build on, so effective food fortification efforts can carry on delivering in the future.
There were a number of themes, including the roles of industry, the government, academia and civil society; improving compliance and measurement; cost-benefit analysis; modelling potential for impact and the required investments.
Also present at the function were members of the food sector fraternity, including the science community, industry – corporates as well as small and medium food businesses represented by their associations, consumer and citizen organisations, international organisations and development partners, experts and government officials from Central ministries and states and other key stakeholders.


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By Guardian correspondent, Zanzibar
AIRTEL Tanzania has entered into a strategic partnership with Zanzibar Cable Television (ZCTV) to facilitate seamless payment for the latter’s subscribers.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Zanzibar yesterday, Zanzibar Minister for Communication and Transport Dr Khali Mohamed said that the partnership also aims at improving financial inclusion.
He said the collaboration is a significant step towards supporting the government's financial inclusion agenda through provision of swift and secure financial services, hence narrowing the financial divide.
"It is indeed commendable for Airtel Tanzania and ZCTV to form a strategic partnership which not only promises to further their business growth but also contributes significantly to our national economy,” he said.
Mohamed said that such collaborations between private entities not only aims to expand their operational footprint but also play a crucial role in fostering employment opportunities and align with the government's initiatives that are geared towards bolstering economic development and job creation.
Andrew Rugamba, director of Airtel Money Services, said the partnership is of mutual benefit for the two entities.
"Airtel Money is dedicated to delivering services that meet the evolving digital needs of our customers,” he said.
He said the partnership enables ZCTV subscribers to manage their payments efficiently and effortlessly through Airtel Money, adding that the goal is to simplify everyday transactions, enhance customer experiences and empower consumers to leverage their mobile devices for a broader range of activities.
Rugamba said the partnership is set to deliver substantial benefits to subscribers of both entities, allowing not only for the convenient management of ZCTV subscriptions through Airtel Money but also enabling package upgrades, error resolutions and access to live content.
Hafidhi Kassim, ZCTV operations director lauded the introduction of the new payment solution through Airtel Money which allows for much more convenient and efficient access than ever before.
“ZCTV is driven to ensure that all our subscribers are delighted with the total offering, and we are continuously looking to improve business processes to provide the best services to our customers, transcending traditional boundaries,” he said.


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Microsoft's annual Build developer conference is a little over a week away, so it's time to round up everything we're expecting to see Microsoft announce and talk about at the event. This year's Build is bigger than ever, with three keynotes across two days, and hundreds of sessions talking about the Universal Windows Platform (UWP), Windows, and more.
New Windows features
Microsoft always dedicates a little time on stage to talk about the next feature updates for Windows 10. In the past, it has announced new features that end up trickling into the next few Windows 10 releases. Last year, Microsoft announced Timeline and Cloud Clipboard, and Timeline has only just showed up in Windows 10 for the public.
This year, we expect Microsoft to dive further into Cloud Clipboard and show it off live for the first time. The company should detail how that feature integrates with the OS, and how developers can tap into it for content sharing across devices. We're also expecting the company to showcase Windows Sets on stage for the first time and talk further about how it believes this new user interaction model is the way forward.
We might also see Microsoft announce upcoming changes to the System Tray and Start menu, with features such as Control Center in the works internally. Microsoft wants to try and clean up the taskbar in Windows 10, and Build would be a great time to announce those plans.
More on the Fluent Design System
Last year at Build, Microsoft debuted its new design language, now known as the Fluent Design System. Microsoft has always said the Fluent Design System is a journey, and as such it's supposed to evolve and improve over time, with new features, materials, and more. Microsoft will likely talk more about the next stage of the Fluent Design System at Build.
Perhaps Microsoft will showcase its plans for implementing Fluent Design in more of its software and services. It's likely that the next version of Office will feature Fluent Design, and Build would be a great place to showcase those enhancements. In fact, Microsoft may also talk about how developers can implement Fluent Design into their own UWP or Win32 apps and outline its plans for the future when it comes to design.
Windows Mixed Reality
Microsoft is just getting started with Windows Mixed Reality (WMR). We expect Microsoft will talk more about its plans for WMR this year, detailing new features and ideas it has for the platform. Microsoft has already expressed interest in building more social features into Windows Mixed Reality, with features such as being able to invite friends into your own WMR homes. Perhaps we'll see Microsoft talk more about these social plans.
UWP, UWP, UWP (and more UWP)
Guess what? UWP is far from dead. With over 90 sessions dedicated to UWP development, Microsoft is going to be talking lots about its modern app platform for developers. It's also going to talk more about progressive web apps (PWAs), and how web developers can enhance their PWAs by bringing them to the Microsoft Store. It's important to remember that a PWA on Windows 10 is a UWP app, as it allows developers to tap into Windows 10 features such as notifications, live tiles, and more.
Cloud, AI, IOT, and the Intelligent Edge
Build is a developer conference, which means we're going to hear a lot about Microsoft's developer-orientated projects. Cloud and AI are important to Microsoft, partners, and developers, and as such you can expect to hear lots about that at Build. We're also expecting Microsoft to talk more about Windows and IoT devices.
Lots more goodies
Build is always full of new things for developers and casual users, so be sure to stay tuned to Windows Central as we'll be on the floor looking for any new things worthy of note!
PS5 games prices are higher than Xbox — but is that a good thing?
Sony's PlayStation 5 reveal came with some big caveats, and one of the most overlooked ones is the fact that games will be more expensive, seemingly across the board. Should Microsoft and Xbox jump on that train as well?
Review: Gigabyte's Z490 AORUS ULTRA is a gorgeous Intel motherboard
Gigabyte's Z490 AORUS ULTRA is a motherboard you should consider for a 10th or 11th Gen Intel-powered PC. On paper, it has plenty going for it, including amazing power design and cooling, passively cooled M.2 slots and good overclocking support.
You can get the Windows 10 October 2020 update early – here's how
In this guide, we'll show you the steps to upgrade your computer to the final release of the Windows 10 October 2020 Update before it's officially available to everyone.
The NFL is back! Check out these must-have Windows apps for football fans
After months of waiting through a unique offseason and no preseason games, the NFL is finally back this week. With these Windows 10 apps, you won't miss a snap of the NFL action.


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Karl-Heinz Müller has stated that Bread & Butter’s January show is still as planned—the scaled back version of one hall. According to Sportswear International, in a letter from Karl-Heinz Muller released today, December 5, 2014, a letter was sent to exhibitors to reconfirm their registration as soon as possible. But that there was no guarantee how many exhibitors are going to be on hand at the show.
Basically, there appears to be differing opinions as to what’s going on in Europe. Sportswear International said they heard from exhibitors that Bread & Butter was going to be canceled. This, among other reasons, caused some brands to move to other shows in Berlin for January.
Bread & Butter has since forwarded this announcement to Sportswear International:
“The plans that BREAD & BUTTER could not realize in the last seasons (consumer days, Barcelona) have led to a drastic decline in bookings for the event of the upcoming season in January 2015.
The radical structural change in the fashion industry and the intensified competition in Berlin, Germany and Europe contributed to the fact that BREAD & BUTTER has not been able to gather the number of exhibitors necessary to realize a significant event.
Apart from that, the coverage of the trade press within the last days has led to numerous cancellations from further exhibitors who had already registered, so that in the end there is only a small number of exhibitors left.
Therefore, we would now like to leave it up to you to book another event, so that you have no damage at the season start.
If you want to stick to your booking at Berlin-Tempelhof despite the current circumstances, we ask you to please reconfirm your booking.
However at this moment we cannot predict how many exhibitors will attend the event in the end.
Therefore, please inform us of your decision as soon as possible.
Thank you and Best Regards,
Stay tuned for more.


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Google dominating immature Swedish smart speaker marketWednesday, February 6th, 2019
Mediavision: Google dominating immature Swedish smart speaker market
In the US, the smart speaker market has accelerated quickly during 2018. The Nordics haven’t adapted to the smart speaker quite as fast, partly explained by language barriers. But, looking at Sweden as an example, we are beginning to see sales picking up. In Q4 of 2018, with X-mas likely providing an extra push, 200 000 households now have a smart speaker – equivalent to approx. 15% of households.
In the US, the number of smart speakers in households grew by 78% year-over-year (YOY) according to a recent report. This means that 53 million Americans, which equals 21% of the population, now owns a smart speaker. Comparatively, during the fourth quarter of 2018 14% (200’), of Swedish households owns at least one smart speaker. The penetration is expected to increase further, 25% of non-smart speaker households said they might purchase a smart speaker within one year.
As opposed to the US where Amazon controls a vast majority (67%) of the smart speaker market, Google is the leader on several other markets. Zooming in on Sweden specifically, Google holds more than half (55%) of the smart speaker market in Q4.
A contributing factor to Google’s dominating market share is that Google launched the first Swedish-speaking voice assistant on the market in August. Apple is notably missing from the list, which is also the case on the global market. Apple’s Homepod speaker targets the premium segment of consumers while Amazon and Google are pricing their speakers lower in order to gain market shares.
Despite the tech giants selling millions of units worldwide, and the smart speaker becoming increasingly common in homes, voice assistants are still in the early stages of development. However, collaborations with “Big brands” as well as media companies will likely push this market quickly – here as well as in the US. An example is IKEA, that recently announced a collaboration with Sonos. Another important factor which is likely to boost sales even further is voice assistants in local languages, as illustrated by Google Assistant’s launch which started off in Sweden – probably due to the fact that Swedish is the biggest language in the region. Google Assistant has since launched as both Danish- and Norwegian speaking, no plans on a Finnish version has been announced. Competition between actors will most likely continue during 2019.


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Google has already made the show a choice for users, but the company has announced that by the end of 2021, they will have registered more than 150 million additional Google users into the app. This means that Google will allow the display by default for users so that they will be able to use it.
According to Google, “And because we know that the best way to keep our customers safe is to turn our security protection into an unconventional, we’ve started to automatically position our creditors in a position. much safer. By the end of 2021, we plan to have 150 million Google users directly registered with 2SV and require 2 million YouTube users to sign up for them. ”
Google has indicated that while the 2FA system is a good protection, they have also noticed that it is not the most appropriate or most appropriate, and they have also stated that they are working on some ways to provide more sustainable solutions in the future to reduce reliance on passwords.


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Over the next two years, GlobalFoundries Inc. will invest between $9 billion to $10 billion in its computer-chip factory complex in New York's Capital Region.
Doing so will at least double the money that GlobalFoundries, owned by the Middle Eastern government of Abu Dhabi, has poured into its site in Malta, a once-rural hamlet located a half-hour north of Albany.
To date, that investment stands somewhere between $8.5 billion to $9 billion, including the ongoing construction of an R&D center.
Most of that money isn't spend on construction. Instead, the bulk is spent on specialized machines that etch circuits onto silicon wafers, with rigorous precision. Those wafers are then cut up into computer chips, the brains of everything from smart phones to tablets to satellites.
At a minimum, the investment would appear to reinforce the company's long-term presence in the Capital Region.
But the new money will not be used to build a much-anticipated second factory, according to a company spokeswoman.
Production of computer chips began two years ago this month. GlobalFoundries employs 2,100 people today. The company expects to add another 1,000 jobs by year's end, which would rank it among the five largest private employers in the 11-county Capital Region.
New York recruited GlobalFoundries with a record package of tax breaks, now valued at $2.4 billion.
For months, GlobalFoundries has sat on the verge of going all-in at the Malta location.
The town has given approval to the company to build a second factory, dubbed Fab 8.2, which would be much larger than the current plant (called Fab 8.1) and roughly triple the company's local headcount by the end of this decade.
In January 2013, GlobalFoundries president and CEO Ajit Manocha dropped tantalizing hints about building a second factory during a speech in Albany.
"This is still the beginning of our start, because there's going to be a Fab 8.2. That will be probably close to a $10 billion investment, when we're ready," Manocha said.
An investment of that size was detailed in a Reuters story published Friday, in an interview with Ibrahim Ajami. He is the CEO of GlobalFoundries' parent, Advanced Technology Investment Co. (ATIC), which in turn is controlled by Abu Dhabi's investment fund, named Mubadala.
Here is Ajami's money quote from that article: "We have received commitments from Mubadala for an additional $9-10 billion for expansion of our facility in New York."
Ajami told Reuters that he wants to expand production at the Malta site, which has a monthly capacity of 60,000 wafers. The company also has seven other factories in Germany and Singapore.
The industry as a whole is racing to figure out how to pack more circuits onto a smaller surface, which would lead to more efficient production and also enable electronic devices to be smaller and thinner.
Laurie Doyle Kelly, a spokeswoman for ATIC, says the new investment will be primarily used to give the current factory extra muscle, possibly by buying even newer equipment than what's currently installed.
Kelly, in an email exchange, also indicated some of the investment will go toward research and development, and "ramping new products."
"No decisions have been made about (Fab) 8.2 at this point," Kelly wrote.


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Experimenting with social media
Everyone knows about the power of social media platforms such as twitter and facebook and the huge potential these platforms offer businesses.
But how should business owners harness this power and use it to their benefit? This has been hotly discussed over the last few years. How do you take advantage of social media to build your brand and ultimately sell more products or services?
On Wednesday Proctor & Gamble ran an experiment in the US to see if they could come up with a few new answers.
They gathered about 40 people from social networking and internet companies including Google and Microsoft, sat them amongst 100 of P&G's marketers, then split them into four groups for a four-hour experiment.
Their goal? To see which group could sell the most t-shirts using only the internet and a US$1000 budget.
They used sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Google and YouTube to advertise the t-shirt sales. All money raised went to a charity. Two hours into the experiment, all four teams had sold 600 t-shirts at US$20 each.
Executive vice president of Nielson Online, Peter Blackshaw, said that businesses should be moving to wherever its customers are congregating. That no longer means shoving a banner ad in the faces of a business's target market.
Organiser of the event, Lucas Watson, told Cincinnati.com that to understand the social media space, "You really have to step into it. Any social media environment is space where consumers are choosing to spend their time. We need to learn how to connect with them there."
P&G already has a track record when it comes to experimenting with social media, and I'm not suggesting small businesses can copy this event to the letter. No doubt digital media experts were happy to turn up in this instance because it gave them an opportunity to impress P&G marketing managers.
But why not run with the idea? It costs very little to get an online campaign up and running on Twitter and Facebook. And what a fun way to learn how to navigate the digital media space.
The social networking world can be a very furtile ground for many service-oriented businesses. As long as you respect the people your are networking with.
I think a big part of its success is that social networking allows businesses to establish relationships with people, build trust and credibility. Its not just about being in their faces.
Since the value of these businesses are often based on intangible factors, service based businesses can enhance their value by strengthening their brand equity and awareness. Social networking provides a great way to do this.
But as the digital and IT world moves at such a demandingly fast pace, I wonder what the next networking development is?
- Posted by: Mike Williams on March 22, 2009 10:34 AM
UBank have recently launched a series of webisodes.
Money Box is the world of finance made simple and easy to understand. Episode 4 covers investing in shares versus stock.
All episodes are approached with a lighthearted sideways look, Money Box will help you make the most of your money right now.
- Posted by: Emily Thompson on March 30, 2009 12:21 PM
I would relly like to know the other paramters of how they went about selling the shirts. I know that social netwrking has its good points for marketing but this test falls over if all they were doing wasselling to friends
- Posted by: John BRaid on April 1, 2009 1:41 PM
Thanks Emily Thompson. The URL for our webisodes is
- Posted by: UBank on April 11, 2009 9:28 AM


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NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -06/14/12)- www.ShinesRooms.com has a handpicked team of market professionals with over 100 years of combined investing experience. Today they are providing members comprehensive research on the Semiconductor - Memory Chips industry and are offering free analytical research on Micron Technology Inc. (MU) and SanDisk Corp. (SNDK). Register with us now to have free access to these research reports. Simply click on the link below.
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Michael Thomas Smith


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Now there is a new way to flavor coffee – with plant-based milk.
In many cafes across China, oat milk takes an increasing part from cow’s milk to become the best coffee companion. And with so many coffee drinkers in China these days, there are many domestic and international herbal milk brands on the market. The price is higher than cow’s milk but consumers do not seem worried about the additional cost.
And there are niche brands with a lot of products. In addition to oat milk, you will also come across soy, coconut, and even pea milk. The newest addition to this emerging market is potato milk, which already has its fans online.
Hyung Woo Kim of Internet research firm Personality said consumers would choose potato milk with curiosity. âMaking milk from potatoes? It’s a great idea, and you can make a variety of flavored drinks with potato milk. As the Swedish brand of oat milk Oatley becomes more and more popular around the world and well received in China, I think potato milk has a lot of potential too, âKim said.
It appears that a high potential market is in its early stages of development. A survey by the Somur medical research company shows that more than 99% of its samples of 5,471 Chinese have some difficulty digesting the sugars in animal milk. Add to that a growing demand for healthier food options these days.
Meanwhile, market research firm Mintel found that 65% of its respondents increased their frequency of healthy eating compared to the pre-COVID-19 era.
â44% of our respondents believe that a healthy diet should include both animal and plant protein,â said Joy Yin, senior food and beverage analyst at Mintel. “On the other hand, we have also observed that consumers view herbal drinks as more natural than milk and dairy drinks.”
In overseas markets like the UK and US, plant milk sales are growing in double digits every year. Projections from the Research and Markets market research platform show that the global plant-based milk market will be worth $ 22 billion in 2024.
Plant-based foods and drinks are not only healthy diet options, but also a major lifestyle trend. Louisiana Waring, senior vision and policy officer for the Vegan Society, says healthy dietary trends in developing countries are driving the consumption of plant-based milk.
“Consumers are much more aware and interested in improving their health. Eating more plant-based foods really fits into the lifestyle. Plant-based milk correctly represents ten percent of the global milk market.” , she said.


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Publishers Gaijin Entertainment and developers StarGem today announced an exciting new update that will be invading the skies above Star Conflict as January 14th will see the introduction of a brand new class of ships, the Destroyer. Joining the already established class of vessels such as Fighters, Frigates and Interceptors, the new Destroyers will be among the slowest ships in the game but will pack a punch of behemoth proportions with guns scattered across both sides of the ship and a special module that is able to create black holes to allow pilots for quicker travel on the battlefield.
Accompanying The Age of the Destroyer update will be brand new types of maps. The Leviathan is a giant area of space with a huge space station that will challenge players to fight deep inside narrow halls and passages while the Nordstar Crash map is the remains of an asteroid that will put a pilots ability to navigate treacherous surroundings like no other map in the game.
For more information on the coming update check out the brand new Star Conflict video below.
Source: Official Website


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One of the hot topics recently on RetailWire (and on the podcast link posted above) is the impact of “fast fashion” on more conventionally managed American retailers. It’s not just about buying trend-right apparel closer to peak demand, but also about sourcing these goods closer to home. The higher costs may be more than offset by “getting it right” and better cash flow, too. Here’s my comment from a recent RetailWire panel discussion:
Many stores (JCP and Kohl’s among them) have taken a page from “fast fashion” retailers by developing their own quick-response brands, such as MNG and Elle. There is still a place for overseas production of more predictable apparel items, such as opening price knit tops, but it’s worth striking a balance.
The biggest opportunity for “fast fashion” is in the specialty arena, where some retailers continue to place big early bets on key items — some specialists were loaded with plaid last fall and the clearance racks are still full. It’s well worth considering the cost savings of long-lead time production vs. the cost of money and — most important — the cost of a bad bet.


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On a mission to build the world’s number one Crypto casino, Moonrocket is celebrating its success in 2022 and the upcoming launch of their brand new casino brand bigwins.com by giving one lucky affiliate manager the chance to explore the NASA Space Center in Florida, for free!
The competition comes as Moonrocket celebrates its ongoing success in the industry, creating high quality and innovative custom solutions for crypto and iGaming brands. The organisation has already worked with content names such as Evolution, Relax and ST8, as well as software groups such as FastTrack, EAST and CellXpert, and is looking to expand this list as the company continues to flourish in 2023.
The competition is open to aspiring Moonrocket affiliates, and promises an exclusive VIP experience of the NASA Space Center during the trip. The experience also includes flights, a four-day stay in a suite in Orlando, two evening dinners and even a voucher for Moonrocket’s new casino.
The launch of Moonrocket’s new casino bigwins.com at the end of January 2023 continues the organisation’s success within the iGaming field which aims to shake up industry norms, through the creation of innovative gaming products that provide users with a one-of-a-kind gaming experience.
Mikael Jamsanen, Chief Executive Officer, commented “Partnerships start with a common mission and our mission is to take your business to the moon and beyond. Our affiliates are key to our success and we have worked with the best in the industry. We are looking forward to what 2023 will bring for our business, as we continue to expand our team and breakthrough into the world of crypto technology. Join Moonrocket affiliates now and win two VIP tickets to the NASA Space Center in Florida!”
To enter the competition, affiliates can follow this link to complete the application form.


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A panel of industry experts will discuss the merits of moving beyond HD during next week’s Creative Week.
Despite TV manufacturers touting the benefi ts of 4K displays, an increasing array of 4K-capable broadcast equipment, and more broadcasters trialling the technology, some question the commercial, artistic and editorial benefi ts of 4K.
The 4K Council session is one of seven taking place during the HD Evolved stream of Creative Week.
IHS Screen Digest principal analyst Ed Border will open the session with an analysis of the market and a potential 4K roadmap.
BBC technology controller television Andy King, EBU senior project manager Adi Kouadio, Panasonic Professional Camera Solutions Business
Unit group manager Nigel Wilkes and Ericsson strategic product manager Mark Horton will also offer their views.
Creative Week takes place from Tuesday 3 June at Bafta in central London. For more information, visit creativeweek.co.uk


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Columbia man sues Hershey Company, claims candy boxes are underfilled
COLUMBIA - A Columbia man is fighting the Hershey Company in federal court for allegedly under-filling two of its candy boxes.
Robert Bratton filed a class action lawsuit claiming Hershey was misleading and deceptive in packaging its Whoppers candy and Reese's Pieces candy in opaque cardboard containers.
The lawsuit says, "Consumers were denied the benefit of the bargain between what was represented and what was received."
The suit also contends, "Consumers would not have purchased the products had they known that the containers were substantially empty, or would have purchased them on different terms."
Bratton alleges the products are uniformly under-filled. In an example, he said Whoppers containers are only about 59 percent full, Reese's Pieces containers were about 71 percent full.
The lawsuit, filed last year, claims Hershey's "deceptive and misleading conduct" violates the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Code of Federal Regulations, and is therefore unlawful.
Bratton is seeking monetary damages in the class action suit.
Hershey responded to the suit by trying to get it dismissed, but so far the company has been unsuccessful.
The candy company said in a response that the packages in question clearly disclose the net weight and quantity of candy inside, and are therefore not misleading.
Hershey also said consumers are well aware that all commercial packaging contains some empty space, and would notice the empty space in the boxes immediately upon picking the items up.
Such civil action lawsuits against candy companies are not uncommon.
According to The Today Show, nationwide class action lawsuits allege the companies are under-filling candy boxes.


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Enough time Shutdown 2 (LS2) of the Highest Hadron Collider commenced a week ago, while the accelerator powered down and also the access to brand new ATLAS cavern started greater. Along side 2nd 2 yrs, organizations out of across the ATLAS Cooperation will be updating and you may combining the check out. With the agenda: the latest refurbishments out-of trick electronics, the constant maintenance of several sensor elements and you may – significantly – the installation of brand new devices.
ATLAS finishes data-taking to own Manage dos
Beams regarding the High Hadron Collider came to a stop now, closing-out number of years out of number-breaking operation to the ATLAS try. Run dos watched the brand new over the top mining of your own high-time boundary, due to the fact ATLAS check out lead the latest understanding of particle physics.
Toward , throughout the the semestrial collaboration meeting during the CERN, ATLAS celebrated a great victory of its cooperation participants which have an awards ceremony. Created in 2014, the fresh A fantastic Conclusion Honours offer detection in order to expert contributions designed to the newest collaboration in most section, leaving out physics analysis.
ATLAS observes evasive Higgs boson rust so you can a couple of bottom quarks
The new ATLAS Collaboration during the CERN’s High Hadron Collider (LHC) provides – finally – observed brand new Higgs boson decaying towards a couple of base (b) quarks. It evasive communications is actually predict and also make upwards nearly 60% of Higgs boson decays and that is ergo mostly guilty of the brand new Higgs sheer width. Yet , it took more half a dozen many years following the 2012 knowledge away from this new Higgs boson to accomplish this observance.
ATLAS Global: new face trailing the latest physics
“Multiculturalism” is not just an excellent buzzword for ATLAS, it’s a traditions. Which have people in more than 90 additional nationalities – spanning most of the populated continent – ATLAS was a cultural experiment to it’s a beneficial medical you to. The the new ATLAS All over the world series invites one see individuals from all the nationality represented regarding the collaboration, attain an understanding of the individual excursions one lead him or her to help you particle physics. All are out of completely different experiences, but display an average purpose of wisdom our universe.
ATLAS shows trick performance at the ICHEP 2018
Feynman. Salam. Weinberg. For the past 50 years, new Global Fulfilling with the HigherTime Physics (ICHEP) might have been the newest meeting place from beasts worldwide. Now, an alternate particular large dominates: the brand new thousands-strong collaborations off Higher Hadron Collider (LHC) physicists.
New 2018 Global Conference to the High energy Physics (ICHEP) kicked away from recently from inside the Seoul, Southern Korea. The brand new ATLAS Collaboration could be unveiling numerous this new performance at ICHEP 2018, including big advancements about dimension of Higgs boson functions, findings regarding secret electroweak manufacturing processes, the newest large precision screening of one’s Simple Model, and you can combinations from looks stretching the brand new come to so you’re able to the physics.
The brand new Higgs boson: the fresh hunt, the fresh new discovery, the study and some coming viewpoints
Many inquiries into the particle physics was connected with the existence of particle size. The new “Higgs method,” using its the fresh Higgs industry and its particular associated Higgs boson, is claimed giving size to primary dust.
Highlights regarding LHCP2018
Physicists from all over the planet build this week during the Centre Domenico inside Bologna, Italy, this site out of Europe’s eldest school, to go to the fresh new 6th annual meeting into Highest Hadron Collider Physics (LHCP2018). The newest 425 professionals enjoyed picturesque tissues, world-famous cooking, and you can an entire selection of the millionairematch online latest physics comes from the fresh LHC. An example platter of some of delicious morsels try displayed.
ATLAS notices direct correspondence out of Higgs boson that have ideal quark
The new ATLAS Collaboration at CERN has launched new observance off Higgs bosons brought also a premier-quark couple. Observing that it extremely rare process is a huge milestone with the world of Large-Time Physics. It permits physicists to check on important parameters of your own Higgs process on the Simple Make of particle physics.


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Automation holds promise to help solve some of the challenges associated with COVID-19. Automated fleets can deliver supplies. Automated shared mobility can easily transport passengers without engaging another driver. And yet with a few exceptions COVID-19 has shut down most automated testing happening on American roadways. Why and how will they restart? Has the transportation paradigm flip of getting people to goods and now getting the goods to people changed how we think about the role of automation? For instance, have the demonstrations of automated delivery such as that between Jacksonville and the Mayo Clinic shown a path forward to a post-COVID transportation system? Does the larger economic downturn impact the race to automation? Join several of the nation’s leaders in assessing how automation is shaping how we move people and goods in the long-term time of Corona.
Robert Brown, Director of Government & Public Affairs, TuSimple
Eric Danko, Director of Federal Affairs, Cruise
Nathaniel Ford, Chief Executive Officer, Jacksonville Transportation Authority
Tim Woods, Founding Partner, POCO Labs and General Manager, Autonomous Vehicle Alliance
Moderator: Amy Ford, Director of Mobility on Demand Alliance, ITS America


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IntoMobile - As part of its Ping social networking service, Apple has reportedly started using iTun.es domain for link shortening. According to MacRumors, the Cupertino-based company registered the domain in December 2006, and now it begun using it for compact Twitter updates.
Not only will they give you an iPhone 14 Pro, they'll pay a bounty fee ranging from $5,000 to $1 million.
Shaz from TL writes: “Innovation in the smartphone marketplace has been stagnant for some time. Though I’d argue Apple have been worse than others in recent years.”
In the grand scheme of things, Batterygate may be just a blip on Apple's radar, a $500 million hiccup for a company worth trillions.


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Dec 10, 2014
Rochester, N.Y. – Ugly. Tacky. Cheesy. Festive. Whatever you call them, Goodwill has the sweater for you this holiday season.
"We take sweater donations all year. Then we put them on the floor at this festive time of year. We like to think of it as a fun and tacky tradition," says Mary Boland, Director of Communications at Goodwill.
Boland points out that National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day – deemed the "ugliest" day of the year – is coming up on Friday December 12. According to TheFactSite.com, this year's National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day will break participation records.
"We’ll be joining in on the celebration of everything that makes these sweaters so wonderful,” says Boland.
Buying an ugly sweater from Goodwill this year does double the good. "You'll have the tackiest sweater around. And you'll feel good knowing that your great buy empowers people," says Boland. All sales support job readiness and skills training programs for people with barriers to independence.
Additionally, Goodwill and the Rochester-area Tim Horton's are partnering to provide a little extra holiday cheer.
"Donate to Goodwill. Or buy something at Goodwill, like a tacky sweater. You'll get a coupon for a free donut with beverage purchase at Tim Horton's," says Boland. "We're helping to spread the word about Tim's Tacky Sweater holiday-themed cup."
The promotion runs until December 31, 2014.


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Lone Oak man arrested on felony theft charge | Crime
MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY (KFVS) - The McCracken County Sheriff's Department arrested a man after an investigation into the theft of gold jewelry and coins.
On April 23, officers began the investigation into the theft from 4870 Contest Road. They say they were able to find a person of interest, Joseph Fossett, 20, who also lived on Contest Road.
According to the sheriff's department, they discovered Fossett had recently sold gold chains that matched the description of those stolen from the victim at Easy Money Express on April 25.
Sheriff's detectives received a covert recording on Friday, May 3 of Fossett confessing to stealing the items in question from the victim's home. Also during the recording, they say they were able to determine that the coins taken from the victim were sold to Hoskins Coins on March 29.
Detectives confronted Fossett about the investigation and say they got a second confession to the theft of the items. Fossett was arrested and taken to the McCracken County Regional Jail for theft by unlawful taking over $500.
The sheriff's department says the value of the coins and jewelry taken were valued at over $3,800.
Copyright 2013 KFVS. All rights reserved.


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The prices of copper scrap grades showed a mixed trend with weak demand being reported as participants delayed the purchase of imported scrap, whose cost spiked in sync with LME. The three-month LME copper contract rose by $167mt to settle at $7,101/mt on Nov 18 from the prior week. The participants are hopeful that the prices will stabilize after Christmas. Majority of manufacturing units were closed for Diwali break earlier this week.
The weekly Davis Index for copper armature wire settled at Rs469,667/mt, up by Rs3,000/mt($40.40/mt) from Rs466,667/mt del India consumer. Davis Index heard trades of copper armature wire at Rs475,000/mt del India consumer around Mumbai, however, not all participants confirmed trades at these levels.
Market participants in North and Western India reported slow demand for copper scrap, while traders in Southern India witnessed good demand.
The weekly Index for copper Berry dropped by 4,833/mt to Rs492,167/mt del India consumer. Davis Index heard trades of copper Berry at Rs500,000-505,000/mt delivered Mumbai consumer but participants in other parts of India did not confirm trades at these levels.
The Davis Index for Heavy dropped by Rs8,083/mt and settled at Rs482,167/mt delivered India consumer.
The weekly Davis Indexes for copper Sheet Cutting dropped by Rs9,167/mt to settle at Rs465,833/mt del India consumer while for copper utensils settled at Rs445,000/mt del India consumer, up by Rs2,000/mt. The weekly Davis Index for copper turnings settled at Rs440,000/mt del India consumer, up by Rs2,000/mt.


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After Facebook announced it would rebrand itself as Meta to focus more on the metaverse where people could meet and discuss various topics virtually, many leading names in the fashion and luxury industries are jumping in the pool to leverage the transforming landscape of the market. Some are trying to partner with companies that already hold digital expertise, while some are navigating their way to this new way of shopping and selling. Our custom shoe designing is here for all footwear brands and retailers that are willing to leverage the changing scenarios of the footwear market. Its customization and digitization solutions enable footwear companies to display their collections through a digital platform and let your buyers take inspiration from them to design their footwear. It helps them make all the necessary changes in the product through 3d and head to the final payment gateways. It enables brands and buyers to establish transparency by using the latest technologies that also assist in providing an exceptional shopping experience to buyers.
Custom Shoe Designs Better Equips Brands to Become Digitally Proactive
Facebook changing its name and status-quo to announce a slew of new features to its platform have compelled other tech giants, such as Microsoft, to introduce their version of the virtual technology. Microsoft has announced it would create its own digital virtual universe called "Microsoft Mesh" in direct competition to Facebook's metaverse. The company is set to introduce new features to Microsoft Teams like 3D avatars and virtual meeting rooms as a part of its digital offerings. The idea behind offering these virtual solutions is that all the industries have realized that virtual showrooms are here to stay, and the pandemic has only accelerated its implementation. People were initially scared to step out for shopping as not many brands and stores had digital facilities to prevent social contact; however, with the advancement in technology, their fear turned into convenience, and as a result, the fashion industry and its various segments have caught on well with the new trend, especially the footwear segment. This segment never witnessed a dark period, even when the pandemic was at its peak. Customers would buy only essential commodities, but footwear never slid from their minds, and thanks to fitness consciousness people, the demand for footwear during the pandemic soared from one to another. Therefore, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that not just footwear giants, such as Adidas, Vans, and Sketchers, seek new ways to entice their audience. Start-ups, too, are changing the game by pushing the industry forward with new tech, including from sneakers to wear in the metaverse to 3D-printed shoes that can be remoulded again. Digital solutions have the power to reach billions of people at once and host hundreds of billions of dollars of digital commerce.
Digital technology helps footwear companies to re-design reality because the latest collection of sneakers and shoes comes in NFT variety and is more in 3d. Despite the procedure to manufacture the products has largely remained 2d and often begins with pencil sketches and photoshops, the trend to display collections in 3d is exponentially rising. Many fashion-tech companies are working with footwear brands and retailers to create software that let sneaker companies design in virtual reality, meaning the shoes are 3D from the outset. Using these solutions and platforms, designers can navigate around 3d objects to draw and sketch directly on products. It means designers can sketch around the ergonomics of the foot more easily. Adidas, a pioneer in the footwear and sportswear industry, uses one such platform and has released a shoe designed in VR. Using the 3d platforms means that Adidas's international workforce can see the shoes in 3D earlier than they could have. It is observed that during the pandemic, people would jump into these virtual studios and work on their own to create some magnificent products. The novel technology helps in mimicking the in-person design studio experience. These technologies are expected to gain traction from buyers further as Christmas is approaching, and the fear of new COVID-19 Omicron is making people extra cautious and proactive. Therefore, in these conditions, having digital technology and playing with its new features will help brands and retailers to expand their business.
To know more - https://writeupcafe.com/tailor-made-footwear-help-brands-adapt-to-transform-consumer-behavior/


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Bosch gets the nod from Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports has given its No. 1 ranking and “Best Buy” rating to Bosch dishwashers in its most recent edition. Six models of the German-engineered appliances were featured on the magazine’s recommended list.
Bosch entered the dishwasher market in 1991. The Irvine, Calif.-based manufacturer makes an assortment of models that range from an all-plastic tub to a fully featured stainless steel tub.
“We are honored by this top recognition and proud to continue our commitment to quality across our line," said Stephanie Hutaff, director of product marketing, dishwashers for Bosch home appliances.
Fake grenade evacuates Lowe’s in Texas
An irate customer planted a fake grenade in the lumber department of a Lowe’s in Texas, prompting an evacuation of the store. The January 9 incident, reported by the Houston Chronicle, began around 1:15 p.m. when the suspect entered the store with a hollowed-out grenade.
According to a sheriff department spokesperson: "He was unhappy with store security in the sense that no one had noticed that he had been walking around the store with the hand grenade. He expressed his displeasure with an employee, who asked him to leave."
The unnamed individual placed the device on a stack of lumber in the building materials section and then grabbed a cart and started shopping.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived moments later and evacuated the store. No injuries were reported. The suspect was questioned, and no charges are expected to be filed in the case, according to the article.
Lowe’s showcases ‘smart home’ solutions
Lowe’s sponsored a networking reception this week at the 2013 International CES in Las Vegas, giving the home improvement retailer a chance to showcase its new offerings in the “connected home” product category. The Jan. 8 event was in partnership with Parks Associates, an international research firm that hosts the annual Connections Summit at CES.
"Lowe’s entrance into the smart home market is an important and potentially game-changing step," said Stuart Sikes, president of Parks Associates. "The retail channel allows consumers to touch and test these solutions, an important step toward broader adoption.”
Parks Associates research shows U.S. consumers are reluctant to take on new service fees, with only 15% of U.S. broadband households willing to adopt subscription controls packages. However, the percentages increase dramatically for individual controls components: 56% would buy door/window sensors, 53% would buy door locks, and 44% would purchase lighting controls. This indicates a strong potential for selling equipment with security and control features through a retail channel that consumers can expand over time to incorporate additional features.
Lowe’s “Iris” system allows consumers to monitor and control their home from their computer, tablet or smartphone. The retailer designed these products and services to appeal to mainstream consumers who may want to purchase simple and affordable bundles.
Kevin Meagher, VP and general manager of Smart Home at Lowe’s, also presented at a session entitled "Convergence in the Connected Home: Partnership Opportunities." Speakers from IBM, Verizon Telecom, Hitachi, EcoFactor and Qualcomm also participated in the session.
During CES, Lowe’s exhibited in the San Polo room at the Venetian hotel.


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Input/Output draws stories from the day’s news, digging deeper into Input’s features, reviews, essays, and reported pieces. We'll unpack unseen context, share valuable insight, and give voice to provocative points of view that illuminate and enhance our understanding of a future that’s just up ahead.
Our relationship with buying things online has only gotten more complicated thanks to the coronavirus outbreak. Why does shopping feel so bad right now? Input senior editor Edgar Alvarez joins us to answer that question. And later: There’s been a sea change in fashion recently. Boat shoes, which used to be for frat bros and rich dads only, are now cool. Thanks to brands like Sperry, Noah, and Rowing Blazers, the silhouette has been revitalized to have its streetwear moment. Input news writer Ian Servantes joins us to discuss.
Read more on inputmag.com/inputoutput


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Spiky, gigantic, and fibrous, jackfruit may not seem particularly inviting. But the tropical fruit in its unripened state is gaining popularity in the United States as a sustainable substitute for meat.
Twenty-five percent of U.S. consumers decreased their meat intake from 2014 to 2015, according to the Nutrition Business Journal. And sales of meat alternatives have nearly doubled—from $69 million in 2011 to $109 million in 2015.
That may explain why some chefs and food companies have begun promoting jackfruit. It has a texture (though not a protein content) like meat’s. It’s starchy and neutral tasting, so “you can do anything with it,” says chef Kajsa Alger, who cooks with it at her L.A. restaurant.


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Research conducted by Bacs Payments Schemes (Bacs) shows that 48% of those who experience poor customer service are more likely to change provider as a result.
Industry figures show that the mobile sector already suffers from high customer churn rates (around 40%) in comparison to other markets and Bacs’ research shows that mobile operators represent 33% of the top offenders when it comes to customer service.
The research which looked at customer service standards relating to Direct Debit, also showed that, despite having experienced a problem, 21% of people who have had a good customer service experience are likely to use Direct Debits more, and Bacs believes the results illustrate the importance to mobile operators of investment in customer service practices.
Mike Hutchinson, head of marketing at Bacs, said: “Our research illustrates that mobile operators seem to be failing to recognise the integral value that superior customer service can have to a business where Direct Debit payment is concerned. In many cases, customer service has become depersonalised, leaving customers dissatisfied and more inclined to change providers.”
Feedback received during Bacs’ research highlighted that key negative experiences can be categories by customer comments, as follows: Ineffective – customers complained of a receiving “lots of promises but no action”; Poor communications – comments suggested issues associated with language barriers: “they struggled to communicate”; Ineffective – customers indicated a lack of help in resolving issues with comments like: “no help was given when requested”, “no one offered assistance”, “they did nothing well”; Impersonal – a lack of personal attention was highlighted with comments including: “automatically assumed the worst and sent a threatening letter”, “didn’t give the matter the urgent attention it required”; Lack of responsibility – comments showed that customer service representatives not taking ‘ownership’ of issues: “they blamed the bank, the bank blamed them”; Lack of cooperation – customers’ comments pointed to a general sense of non-cooperation and disinterest: “they were dismissive”, “they wouldn’t cooperate”.
Hutchinson added: “Looking at our research, when a customer service team adopts a ‘friendly and efficient’ style combined with an ‘understanding’ approach, it results in a positive customer experience. Great customer service can be achieved through regular training, ensuring front line staff are confident in being able to deal with enquiries, even if they may not directly relate to the core product or service being sold, for example a payment method like Direct Debit.”
To support all Direct Debit service users and their customer service teams, Bacs offers a wide range of staff training that can be used to enhance both basic and advanced knowledge of the product. This type of training can directly influence how quickly customer service team members can assist with any queries or issues, moving them away from the slow response time associated with negative experiences and aligning them with the speed connected to those highlighted as positive.


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Below is a list of our China+ Publications for the last 6 months. If you are looking for reports older than 6 months please email email@example.com, or contact your account rep
Please use the filters on the right to search for a specific date or topic.
PPI inflation is proving stubborn, while CPI inflation is just getting started.
Services inflation continues to rise, despite the broadening Delta scare.
Trade figures highlight the "mid-cycle" falter, as exports soften but imports stumble too.
July exports likely weakened, while imports will be boosted by the tail end of commodities inflation.
PPI inflation may not yet have peaked; headline CPI inflation is just about food prices.
M1 growth should now be troughing, but an RRR cut is looking more likely nonetheless.
China's weak July PMIs play into a wider story of underperformance in trade and manufacturing.
The official and Caixin reports are at odds on prices, but we reckon PPI inflation ticked higher in July.
The non-manufacturing gauge suggests that no fis- cal rescue has been forthcoming.
China's PPI inflation is at or near its peak, and CPI inflation remains relatively tame...
... But underlying inflationary pressure is more ad- vanced in China, thanks to the early recovery.
More limited slack means services inflation is on a sustained uptrend.
Sometimes when you put together the Chinese data, it feels like you are drawing from multiple jigsaw puzzles, each with pieces missing.
Chinese exports surprised to the upside in June, with growth picking up to 32.2% year-over-year, from 27.9% in May.
The PBoC followed through with a Reserve Requirement Ratio cut of 0.5 percentage points on Friday, hot on the heels of a strong hint to do so from the State Council meeting earlier in the week.
Energy inflation is not straightforward to forecast in China, thanks to the lack of clarity over the CPI weights.
The official manufacturing PMI indicates that bottlenecks remain a problem.
The PBoC continues to hold off on tightening, as it waits for something closer to herd immunity, and to see how the economy responds to "freedom".
Last year President Xi announced a new target
for China, with the importance of GDP targeting diminishing.
The authorities are growing increasingly uncomfortable with the upward march of commodity prices.
It's now widely appreciated that Chinese exports are exposed, as the global economy switches lanes to services, from manufacturing.
China's official manufacturing PMI was little changed at 51.0 in May, after April’s 51.1, with the index remaining oblivious to U.S. stimulus efforts and in recent months.
Overall, data available so far for May point to a modest improvement in Chinese manufacturing.
M1 growth dropped further in April, to 6.2% year- over-year, from March's already-low 7.1%.
China's PPI inflation picked up to 6.8% in April, from March's 4.4%, and it isn't quite done yet.
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Bobbie who struggled with the flu and pneumonia, passed last night in Orlando. Reports state he was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2012.
The 2013 Golden Globe aired Sunday night and here are the Fashion Guru’s worst fashion moments.
Who makes better films Tyler Perry, and his rambunctious Madea character, or renown filmmaker Oscar Micheaux?
The 2013 Golden Globe aired Sunday night and here are the Fashion Guru’s fashion moments.
Affectionately known to many as Mr. Gaines, owner of the fictional social spot for hearty food and latest college gossip, “The Pit,” Lou Myers passed February 20 after a heart-related emergency the day before.
Thank God it’s Friday! Bust a move from the 90’s and rejoice! Then tune into A Different World at 5/4c for the best TGIF happy hour.
They say you’re the product of your five closest friends, so what’s your GQ (girlfriend quotient)? Take the quiz, test your loyalty, then watch Girlfriends…
Who’s the best and baddest of 2014? Vote for your TV One favorites! Winners will be announced in January.
Take a look back at some of Shenehneh’s funniest moments and watch more Martin inspired antics, December 18 7/6c.
Is TV One really doing a Katt Williams show? The real question is what OTHER shows are we working on? You won’t (and shouldn’t) believe…


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AutoGuide News Blog
The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
In total, the Korean automaker will display six sports-themed vehicles. The first of the group has already been teased (above) and is a colorful creation inspired by pro golfer Michelle Wie – whom Kia has used before in its ads. In addition, Kia has announced a second of the six cars will be themed around NBA star Blake Griffin. As for what that car will look like, and the remaining four vehicles, we’ll have to wait for SEMA to find out.
Look for full coverage on AutoGuide’s 2011 SEMA Show coverage page here, starting November 1st.