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Food legislation and food safety – February 2023
Food Contact Materials (FCMs) – rules and regulations in the EU
Keller and Heckman reports that the EC has notified (86 kB) the WTO of the proposed update to Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 (the Plastics Regulation).
EFSA has published a safety assessment of waxes for use in FCMs.
Germany: SGS reports that the BfR has revised six FCM recommendations, including paper and board materials.
Food Contact Materials (FCMs) – rules and regulations outside the EU
Brazil: SGS reports that the WTO has been informed (72 kB) of the intention to revise the FCM legislation.
China: FPF reports that the National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment is seeking comments from industry on restricting the use of three polymer coatings in FCMs for infants and children.
Thailand: Keller and Heckman reports that the WTO has been notified of draft legislation on microwavable food plastic bags for reheating (73 kB) and on plastic bags for foods (71 kB).
Ukraine: SGS reports that legislation has been issued to regulate vinyl chloride monomer in FCMs and articles containing PVC. The new law will become effective on 19 November 2025.
US: Keller and Heckman reports that the FDA has added ten new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substances (FCS) Notifications. Three other new entries were also added, Keller and Heckman reports.
Claims, marking and labelling in the US
The USDA has published the Strengthening Organic Enforcement Final Rule to protect the organic label.
The FDA has issued a procedural notice on its plans to conduct a study entitled “Quantitative Research on Front of Package Labeling on Packaged Foods.”
Aarhus University researchers studied polyamide (PA) 6 and 66 oligomers and their migration from a multilayer packaging consisting of PA on the food contact side. The research (2.2 MB) is published in Food Packaging and Shelf Life.
University of Zaragoza researchers studied the chemicals migrating from two different post-consumer rHDPE milk bottles. An article (5.61 MB) about the research is published in Food Packaging and Shelf Life.
In an article (870 kB) also published in Food Packaging and Shelf Life, DTU researchers provide an overview of the migration of PFAS from paper FCMs into food.
NVC members receive this information with all the relevant links in the monthly NVC Members-only Update. If you have any questions, please contact us: email@example.com, +31-(0)182-512411


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I often like to poke fun at the "New Economy" as the buying and selling of "nothing" (e.g.: "unlimited" talk, text and data) but we have reached a new level of non-productivity with firms selling fake popularity on social media sites. The Associated Press posted an article yesterday about so-called "click farms" where people are paid to simply "like" things on Facebook, "retweet" and "favorite" things on Twitter or "view" videos on YouTube.
The idea is to make your business, website, band or "celebrity brand" appear to be more popular than it really is. That's right, you can now buy "popularity" (I know what all of you former high school nerds are thinking: "where was this when I was in school?"). The premise is based on the "new economic reality" that "success" in business isn't so much about putting actual money in the till--but rather, making it look like you are doing well.
The AP article sites an example from the music industry--where bands and artists artificially boosted the number of video views on YouTube to court record labels to sign them. And here I thought the music industry only cared about whether a female artist had big enough ahem "lungs" to look good in a video--or that a band actually sounded good when they performed. But today, all you need is a lot of "fake popularity" on the internet and someone is apparently willing to give you a contract.
The article goes on to mention large corporations that have even bought Facebook likes--because having "too few" can make it look like you are terrible and nobody wants to buy your product. Heaven forbid you actually produce a high-quality good or service that people are demanding--and putting cash in your pocket for--instead of going to a website just to click "like". There are plenty of popular places here in Oshkosh of which I am not a fan--and there are places that have no Facebook page to "like" that I frequently visit.
To add insult to injury, it turns out that many of these "click farms" are located overseas--in Bangladesh and Indonesia. No wonder today's recent college graduates who specialized in "Social Media Integration" can't find jobs--they have all been outsourced to people willing to click a mouse for less than a penny per "like"!
I have an idea on how to make the "New Economy" more like the "Old Economy" that supported more jobs and provided more income for workers. How about instead of just "liking" a business--which the last time I checked doesn't make anyone any money--we actually buy what they are selling, and let them be "successful" where it really counts: on the bottom line.

domain: news


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Black Friday 2021 Jordan Release
Air jordan 5 raging bull color: Information on upcoming air jordan release dates 2021 is coming in hot!
Take a look at the air jordans scheduled to release from this weekend and well into 2021. Air jordan 5 raging bull color: Air jordan 4 golf 'white cement' release date:
Sale sale sale sale great prices for the best brands in world.
The timeless air jordan 1 has a number of drops coming this year along with other highly anticipated og and retro colorways of the air jordan 3, air jordan 4, and air. Discover men's and women's clothing, shoes & accessories. Jordan 5 raging bull release date: January 2021 jordan release dates. Jordan brand paid homage to mj's alma mater with the air jordan 1 high university blue. Thread in 'jordan brand' thread starter started by therealest1, start date feb 27, 2021. Jordan brand is steadily releasing iconic original colorways that fans know and love, as well as new versions of retros. Air jordan release dates are up to date for 2021 and beyond. For the latest news about the air jordan releases of 2021, and 2022's upcoming release dates, keep checking back to sneakerexclusive. Check out the latest release dates of upcoming retro air jordans for 2021 along with links of where to buy the latest releases. 11,433 likes · 3 talking about this. Air jordan 1 low cny. Black friday traditionally starts the weekend after thanksgiving, which would while usually retailers offer older models at discounted prices, this year we saw amazing offers on some recently released products, including apple's new m1 macbook pro and macbook air laptops. March 2021 jordan release dates. See the best & latest black friday jordan release on iscoupon.com. Information on upcoming air jordan release dates 2021 is coming in hot! Air jordan 11 silver eyelets color: A new air jordan 1 high og in black, white and light smoke grey is releasing during 2021. Last year's offers saw prices tumbling on everything from 4k tvs to last year, we saw everything from the newest releases to classic devices receiving some of their lowest prices yet. The term black friday comes from when retailers go from being in the red (at a loss) in their business for the year to going into the black (profitable), thus showing how important the end of the year holidays shopping season is to. When is black friday 2021? Jordan brand will be releasing an upcoming air jordan 1 inspired by their classic who said man was not meant to fly commercial from 1985. Our guide will be updated regularly with the latest air jordan release date information. Air jordan 1 high og patina color: The timeless air jordan 1 has a number of drops coming this year along with other highly anticipated og and retro colorways of the air jordan 3, air jordan 4, and air. From the 'carmine' air jordan 6 to the 'cool grey' air jordan 3, here are the most important air jordan release dates you need to know about for february 2021. Air jordan 1 high '85 og 'neutral grey' is returning in 2021 detailed look at the air jordan 11 'black clear' is releasing holiday december 12th, 2020. Black friday 2021 in the united states is on friday, november 26. First look at the union x air jordan 4. All of coupon codes are verified and tested today! Black friday might be over for this year, but you can still shop sales and discounts at asos.


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Dell is getting an early start on their Black Friday Sale this year, offering fantastic deals on a range of their Dell and Alienware gaming PCs and laptops. While more deals are expected to be added in the coming weeks, the current discounts are already some of the best we’ve seen all year. Whether you’re looking for a powerful gaming desktop or a portable gaming laptop, Dell has you covered.
One standout deal is the PS5 Slim Spider-Man 2 Gaming Console Bundle, which is currently in stock at Dell. This bundle includes the new PS5 Slim Disc edition console along with a free copy of the highly anticipated Spider-Man 2 game. The PS5 Slim is smaller and lighter than its predecessor, making it more convenient to fit into your gaming setup.
For those in the market for a gaming laptop, the Alienware m16 RTX 4070 Gaming Laptop is a great option. With its high-resolution QHD+ display, powerful AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX processor, and RTX 4070 GPU, this laptop is capable of delivering exceptional gaming performance. The AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX CPU is one of the fastest on the market, while the RTX 4070 GPU is on par with the performance of the RTX 3080.
If you’re looking for the fastest gaming PC available, the Alienware Aurora R15 RTX 4090 Gaming PC is the deal for you. Equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X CPU and the powerful GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, this gaming PC offers unparalleled performance. The RTX 4090 is currently the most powerful consumer GPU on the market, ensuring smooth gameplay and stunning visuals.
In addition to these deals, Dell is also offering discounts on other gaming PCs and laptops, such as the Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4060 Gaming PC and the Dell G15 RTX 4060 Gaming Laptop. These options provide excellent performance at more affordable price points.
With Dell’s early Black Friday Sale, gamers can take advantage of these incredible discounts and upgrade their gaming setups without breaking the bank.
Q: When does Dell’s Black Friday Sale start?
A: Dell has started their Black Friday Sale early this year, with deals currently available.
Q: Can I find deals on both Dell and Alienware gaming PCs and laptops?
A: Yes, Dell’s Black Friday Sale includes discounts on both Dell and Alienware gaming PCs and laptops.
Q: Are more deals expected to be added to the sale?
A: Yes, Dell is expected to add more deals as we get closer to November 24.
Q: Are these discounts the best we’ve seen all year?
A: Yes, the current discounts on Dell’s Black Friday Sale are some of the best we’ve seen all year.
Q: Can I find deals on gaming laptops with powerful graphics cards?
A: Yes, Dell’s Black Friday Sale includes gaming laptops with powerful graphics cards, such as the Alienware m16 RTX 4070 Gaming Laptop.
Q: What are the specs of the Alienware Aurora R15 RTX 4090 Gaming PC?
A: The Alienware Aurora R15 RTX 4090 Gaming PC is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X CPU and the GeForce RTX 4090 GPU.
Q: Can I find more affordable options in Dell’s Black Friday Sale?
A: Yes, Dell offers more affordable options, such as the Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4060 Gaming PC and the Dell G15 RTX 4060 Gaming Laptop.


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India Inc welcomes nod to FDI in multi-brand retail
- Would prefer to go to Pakistan than stop criticising Modi: Omar Abdullah
- Supreme Court lifts mining ban in Goa, caps iron ore volume
- PMO begins work on Presidentâs Parliament speech for next govt
- In this TN seat, Cong, BJP and AAP take centrestage
- To prevent polarisation, EC tells Delhi Police âdonât publicise workâ
Welcoming the nod accorded by Parliament to FDI in multi-brand retail, India Inc today said this will send positive signals to foreign investors which will encourage investments and boost the economic growth.
Industry chamber Ficci said the progressive reform will undoubtedly send positive signals and bolter the confidence of investors.
"Strategic investment opportunities will now open up global retailers and positively impact related sectors such as agriculture, food processing, textiles and consumer goods. At the same time, farmers and consumers will reap the benefit of this reform measure," Ficci President R V Kanoria said.
Also, Ficci hoped that states desirous of attracting FDI will now open their doors to foreign investment in multi-brand retail.
Sharing similar views, Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat said : "Now, this is a great opportunity for government to push much-needed reforms which have been pending and hurting the growth of the nation. The government should pass the bills related to banking and insurance in the current session."
Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President M Rafeeque Ahmed said multi-brand retail will indirectly help the export sector as exporting units will get exposed to new trends emerging on the globe and shall be accessing large departmental stores for exports of quality products from the country.
Labour-intensive sectors like textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, carpets and other life style products will be immensely benefited from the move, he added.
The government today won the approval of Parliament to its controversial decision of allowing FDI in multi-brand retail with a motion against it being defeated convincingly in Rajya Sabha, as BSP voted in favour of the UPA.
Commercial real estate services firm CBRE said this is a positive move by the government which will be a game-changer for the real estate industry in India.
"It will encourage international retailers to look at India as a destination to set up their operations resulting in creating opportunities in supply-chain management, warehousing and better quality products at competitive prices," CBRE South Asia Chairman and MD Anshuman Magazine said.
- Five months after gruesome ATM attack, accused still at large
- Ex-syndicate member of Bangalore University held in marks-for-cash scam
- Accused get bail as police fail to file chargesheet
- ‘Naxals collected info on trucks carrying explosives from Khadki to Ahmednagar’
- A tale of two villages: Ramayan and Mahabharat
- UP CM tears into Modi bastion on first visit to Gujarat, says Third Front ready


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We're months away from even having our first peek at the next-gen Mazda3, but images leaked today could give us an indication of what we might expect for the new sedan and hatchback models.
Read This Article
Earlier this week we saw leaked images taken from a 2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata brochure, containing a subtly altered, more aggressive looking roadster.
Getting into a Mazda3—the Japanese automaker's most purchased car—just got a little easier.
The latest rise in gas prices is once again impacting both driving habits and vehicle purchase decisions.


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Leaders of Taiwan's machine tool industry are set to unveil a series of smart manufacturing initiatives for a range of applications during the 2016 International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS).
The Manufacturer Thought Leadership Network has been relaunched after many months of continuous development. We are delighted to be sharing our new online network with members past, present and new, and are confident the network is bigger and better than its predecessor.
Loma Systems has been named a National Champion for United Kingdom in The European Business Awards, sponsored by RSM; Europe’s largest business competition set up to celebrate business excellence and best practice in the European business community.
The Manufacturer has revealed the shortlisted companies for this year’s prestigious TMMX Awards.
Northumberland-based advanced manufacturing firm, Thermacore Europe, has used its lean and green approach to growth in order to reach a major milestone.
A collaboration between the University of Sheffield School of Mathematics and Statistics and the Machining Group of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is developing simulation tools that can be used to create new manufacturing processes.
High-speed transport pioneering firm, Hyperloop One, has opened its first manufacturing plant to help build and shape the future of high-speed transportation
Connected devices, Smart Factory, Industry 4.0, Connected Factory, IoT, IIoT - there's a lot of buzz around these relatively new but basically interchangeable ideas.
Rize has made huge leaps in the development of 3D printing technology with the Boston-based startup creating a new 3D printer that doesn’t require any post processing of the object after it is printed.
In an effort to resolve a lengthy backlog in the delivery of its spare parts, from September, Mercedes-Benz is going make 30 different plastic spare parts for its cargo trucks available to 3D print.


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The Italian manufacturers' feud appears to still be burning strong.
Ferrari has been spotted testing a Lamborghini Huracan STO at its Fiorano testing circuit. Benchmarking rival supercars is a common activity that many manufacturers dive into, but it is peculiar to see competing engineers driving opposition cars with this much enthusiasm.
It could be possible that Ferrari wants a true idea of how fast its main rival is around the circuit so it knows where it needs to be in terms of performance and general race track usage. Next to anything Ferrari has in its lineup at the moment, the Huracan STO is looking a bit dated as it still features the group's naturally aspirated V10. Despite the weight savings and improved downforce, it has struggled to keep up with the younger crowd.
The STO's main rival would have been the Ferrari 488 Pista, but this is no more and now the brand needs to develop a follow-up based on the F8 Tributo. If benchmarking is currently being conducted, it means that this track-focused product could be arriving soon.
We already know that the brand may be looking at bringing an end to the F8 model line now that the 296 GTB has comfortably been introduced as an unintended replacement. What better way to end a model line than by introducing a hardcore variation? This is a trend that Ferrari has stuck to ever since the 348 Challenge.
Until any official announcements are made, all we can do is speculate as to what makes the Huracan STO such an important car to Ferrari. The Lamborghini's V10 offers 631 horsepower and 417 lb-ft of torque which is a figure that Ferrari can easily match with its twin-turbo V8 engine family. The current F8 Tributo is good for 710 hp and 568 lb-ft and does not weigh much more than the STO, but lacks the aggressive aero which could give the Raging Bull an edge on the track.
So far we've been given a hint at what a hardcore F8 may look like thanks to the likes of Novitec and Mansory, but as per Ferrari's consistent design direction, whatever we may land up seeing is likely to be a bit sleeker and more reserved.


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Hackers steal $5 million in attack on European bitcoinThe point where negative interest rates, which many said would never happen just 2-3 years ago, are now becoming the norm.Deflation, or the restriction of the money supply, can have devastating short-term effects in the fiat currency-based economy.Now that the good times are rolling, again, for Bitcoin as a global currency and exchange of value, how far can Bitcoin price go.According to Willie, a treaty between them could switch international contracts from a U.S. Dollar exchange to gold, which would have major ramifications on USD and gold values, further eroding the global reserve status of the U.S. Dollar, if not ending it altogether.It remains unclear if the customer funds were insured by BitGo and if customers will be fully reimbursed.
4 Ways to Convert Bitcoins to Dollars - wikiHowHundreds of books and conspiracy theories have been created about the Rothschild family and just how wealthy and powerful they are.
bitcoin | eBay
Real time exchange rates, highly accurate. 19.73 Bitcoin to US Dollar, 19.73 BTC to USD Currency Converter.Bitcoin as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system cannot be allowed to survive.In response, New York based customers were banned and expunged by a number of Bitcoin companies, including Bitfinex, Kraken, Bitquick.co, and ShapeShift.
Bitcoin Price…to $1 Million? - Digits - WSJ
(4.60%) Bitcoin Volatility Index - Charts vs Dollar & MoreThe closed-door meeting included over 30 miners, service providers, and Bitcoin Core developers and was meant to address solutions to the block size debate.Bitcoin is an innovative payment network and a new kind of money.
BitcoinAverageOver the next three months, the two companies will work on integrating Bitcoin payment processing for Braintree merchants.Convert BTC to USD exchange rates data by Finance Ai provides.
For example, if you have 10 Bitcoins before August 1st, you would now have 10 Bitcoins and 10 Bitcoin Cash.Now, this all may be nothing, or it could be a bunch of financial tea leaves that may lead to prosperity, or a doomsday scenario.Real time exchange rates, highly accurate. 5 US Dollar to Bitcoin, 5 USD to BTC Currency Converter.Become the best Bitcoin miner and learn how to mine Bitcoins with the best Bitcoin mining hardware, software,.Most probably not, but they seem like the types that like to bet on a winning horse, and Bitcoin is out-performing gold versus the U.S. Dollar.IMO, something big is coming in the near future, and the elite are getting ready for it.
BitQuick.co - Buy Bitcoin and Sell Bitcoin Instantly for Cash
Bitcoin Price Chart (BTC/USD) | CoinGecko
Hong Kong dollar to Bitcoin conversionWright did not provide WIRED with any confirmation that he was indeed Satoshi Nakamoto.
This verification was later debunked by the Bitcoin community.BTCClicks is an advertising platform and paid-to-click (PTC) where advertisers can receive quality traffic and members can earn bitcoins.
I do not accept any form of national currency such as Dollars or Euros for my products.Those Bitcoin holders who had sold their bitcoins for dollars in November 2013 are looking at many.Andresen later stated that he may have been tricked by Wright.


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How to get into Apple’s beta program
The new software developer program, Apple’s Developer Program, will be available starting in June.
This program is designed to help developers get a leg up in the market and get the most out of their Apple products.
Here’s what you need to know about the program.
Apple’s Developer Programs will offer developers an up to 80 percent discount on apps in the App Store for up to a year.
The program is part of a larger initiative to make the app ecosystem more transparent and open.
Apple is working with the National Institutes of Health to make sure developers have access to relevant, timely and relevant health data, said Steve Hsieh, Apple VP of Developer Programs.
Developers can get up to 40 percent off the AppStore if they use a unique identifier for their apps.
The app must be approved by Apple and be compatible with iOS 10.
The developer program is meant to help the development community get the tools and knowledge they need to build apps that people use, said Apple Vice President of Developer Relations Kristin Luebke.
Developer program is also aimed at providing developers with the support they need in order to get the best possible experience for the customers.
It allows developers to get feedback and help from Apple’s engineers, but it also helps them with things like documentation and a quick start.
Apple will also give developers access to a developer portal where developers can see and track the progress of their apps through a dashboard.
Developers can also submit updates to the platform, which includes a link to the iOS app.
Apple has a lot more to do, but its goal is to create a truly open ecosystem for developers and give them the tools they need.
This means Apple will keep working to improve the App Stores and make it easier for developers to compete and thrive.
This is the first time that Apple has made a similar program available for developers, Hsiehe said.
Apple also is offering developers a chance to participate in a special “App Developer Summit” where the company will talk about new products, including the iPhone X. The developer program will be open to the public.
Apple says that developers are getting a chance at the same discount rate that developers get for participating in the developer program.
Developers will receive a discount code that can be used to get 30 percent off apps in Apple’s App Store.
The discount code can be redeemed in any Apple Store on or after June 15.
The code can also be used on Apple Pay, Macs, Apple TV, Apple Watch, the Mac App Store and the Mac Marketplace app.
Developer programs are offered in several areas of Apple, including online, iOS, Mac, Mac App Stores, the iTunes Store, the iBooks Store, Mac OS X, the App store, Mac software and the App Center.
Apple offers a developer program for developers in more than a dozen countries, including Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Apple is also offering the developer programs to developers in the United States and China.


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On 19 December, the Government announced that Alcohol Duty rates will be frozen by a further six months from February, until August 2023. Any changes to the rates will be announced as part of the Chancellor's budget statement on 15 March 2023. If any changes are announced at the Budget, they will take take effect from 1 August 2023. This has been done to align any changes to duty rates with the implementation dates for the alcohol duty system.
The simplification of the duty system, which will take effect from 1 August 2023, will reduce the number of main rates from 15 to 6, and tax products in proportion to their alcohol content.
All tax categories, such as beer and wine, will be moved to a standardised set of bands, with rates for products between 1.2-3.4 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV), 3.5-8.4 per cent ABV, 8.5-22 per cent ABV, and above 22 per cent ABV. Above 8.5 per cent ABV, all products across all categories will pay the same rate of duty if they have the same proportion of alcohol content. Registration and payment will also be simplified, and the practice where individual products have different administrative rules will end.
The new progressive manner in which alcohol is taxed will ensure higher strength products incur proportionately more duty, and these rates will be the same across all product categories. This change will address the problem of harmful high-strength products being sold too cheaply, and the new rates for low strength drinks below 3.5 per cent ABV will encourage manufacturers to develop new products at lower ABVs, giving consumers greater choice and greater options to drink responsibly.
I welcome the introduction of a new small producer relief which will build on the previous success of the Small Brewers Relief, which will benefit cidermakers and other producers of lower ABV drinks. This will allow small producers to diversify their product range to other products below 8.5 per cent ABV while still benefitting from reduced rates.
Any decision to modify our tax regime is a matter for the Treasury and careful consideration will be given to any proposed amendments to current tax rates. I understand that the Government keeps all taxes under review, including alcohol duty. I shall be following any developments on this issue closely, and I will ensure my colleagues at the Treasury are aware of the strength of feeling on this issue.
The technical details have outlined how new small producer reliefs will be finalised through the alcohol duty review consultation process, and this will include and exploration of the merits of any changes to the minimum juice content through the alcohol duty review consultation. I recognise that the UK has a history of cidermaking dating back thousands of years, a tradition that has produced a variety of cidermaking traditions throughout the country. As you know, the present requirement under the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979 that 35 per cent of the finished product be made up by apple juice was last revised in 2010, following consultation with cidermakers. I am not aware of any plans to amend this provision in the 1979 Act.
The EU's duty system, like our duty system before these current changes, has different rates of duty for different products as well as for different hectolitres of product or different hectolitres of degree or pure alcohol. It is the desire of my colleagues at the Treasury to move away from such a system to one that is based on alcohol content.


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By Martin Z. Braun | Bloomberg
Tesla Inc. will start charging $15,000 for the driver-assistance system it calls Full Self-Driving, raising the price of the controversial product for the second time this year.
The hike for customers in North America will take effect Sept. 5, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk tweeted Sunday. The current $12,000 price will be honored for orders made before that date, he wrote.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving, or FSD, has been a lightning rod because it requires active supervision and doesn’t make the company’s vehicles autonomous. California’s Department of Motor Vehicles has accused the company of misleading consumers about FSD and its less-capable Autopilot system. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also has opened two separate investigations into whether Autopilot is defective.
Musk, 51, has said solving issues with the company’s self-driving technology is critical to the company’s valuation. “That’s really the difference between Tesla being worth a lot of money and being worth basically zero,” he told fan club members during a recent interview.
Tesla shares fell as much as 2.5% to $867.58 as of 9:40 a.m. Monday in New York. The stock has dropped about 16% this year.
NHTSA sent a letter to Tesla last week regarding the first of its two pending Autopilot defect investigations, posing several questions related to how the company is monitoring and enforcing driver engagement and attentiveness, including its use of in-car cameras. The agency gave the carmaker until Sept. 19 to respond.
The regulator also warned consumers against using real people — and especially children — to test Tesla’s safety features after owners posted a video batting back criticism of how capable the company’s cars are at detecting pedestrians. NHTSA’s defect probes have focused on Teslas crashing into stationary first-responder vehicles and suddenly braking at high speeds.
Tesla last raised the price of FSD by $2,000 in January. The company said last month that more than 100,000 drivers had access to FSD Beta at the end of the second quarter.
Musk tweeted that a wide release of FSD Beta is one of his two big goals for this year, the other being Space Exploration Technology Corp. getting its massive Starship to orbit. The closely held company has designed the rocket to eventually take humans to Mars.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2022 Bloomberg L.P.


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At this point I think the world knows that stickers and emoji aren’t frivolous. There are certainly plenty of examples to suggest that this new kinda of media type is being taken more seriously than it was, say, a year or two ago.
Messaging app Line, which held a successful US-Japan IPO this year, is the best example: it grossed $280 million from selling stickers in 2015. Outside of Asia, Apple has revamped iMessage with a focus on media and integrated other apps, while Twitter is charging brands to offer promoted stickers to users, while Snapchat continues to use visual stickers.
“Two years ago, it is was fairly unacceptable for two guys to send each other emojis. Now it’s an accepted part of interactions, even on a professional level,” Tom Smith, CEO and co-founder of Imoji, told me in an interview.
Well, you’d hope that Smith and Imoji would know, given that they offer a platform that powers sticker sending on mobile devices. It’s been nearly 18 months since Smith’s startup launched an SDK to put potentially millions of custom emoji into any app.
Unlike Line and others who license specific content for stickers, Imoji takes an open stance in that it allows anyone to basically make any kind of sticker/emoji and then put it into their collection.
So, in essence, Imoji’s two-sided approach is to enable users to make stickers, and apps to let their users get access to them. Smith disclosed that Imoji currently has over 80 developer partners which reach 15 million active users each month. That collective, he added, sends “billions” of stickers per month — in addition, Imoji sees nearly two billion “content impressions” and over 200 million search requests per month.
Imoji’s global tracker is pretty neat
With promising engagement under its belt, it is now time for step two and a move to become a content platform.
The idea here is to offer a platform that lets brands and companies interact with users in a different kind of way to regular advertising and marketing. Initially, that is likely to mean branded content — Imoji has already worked with the NBA and hip hop act Rae Sremmurd among others — but there is scope to go far beyond that. Indeed, content could be tailored based on location, collections and campaign, with the potential to include video ads, app installs, and commerce features from “brands that people are talking about,” Imoji co-founder Jason Stein explained.
“It isn’t a flash in the pan, when you create good content, people still use it and the brand stays relevant,” Stein added.
Imoji launched in the summer of 2014 when emojis, stickers and keyboard ideas were hot. The potential to offer a content experience or develop a keyboard app that itself could be a different kind of vehicle for user interactions (potentially with brands) was just taking off and showing promise.
Fast forward back to today and the reality is that most of the companies piloting those ideas have undergone major changes. Most have been sold. SwiftKey probably fared best with a $250 million acquisition from Microsoft, but elsewhere Pinterest acquihired Fleksy and even Apple snapped up a keyboard maker.
Ideas are great, but a business needs legs in order to get to the point of execution.
Imoji hasn’t raised anything like as much as other content players. To date it has pulled in $2.4 million from investors, including a $2 million round that closed one month after its 2014 launch, but the founders maintain it is operating efficiently.
“We’re super lean [and] in a comfortable spot right now,” Smith said, adding that Imoji isn’t immediately looking to raise funding.
However, he said, it may look to investors before the end of the year after it ushers brands onto its platform this fall and begins to prove out its model. Beyond their own push, the Imoji founders also believe that other companies welcoming third party apps and visual content will move their industry forward in a major way.
“We’re still in the first few innings,” Stein added. “Apple opening its garden to developers is huge.”


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ASIA NEWS NETWORK
WE KNOW ASIA BETTER
Alibaba starts to focus on wedding photographers
Publication Date : 12-08-2014
Planning a wedding can be a stressful affair, especially when you have a limited budget.
To help ease the stress, e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, which is known as China's "everything store", rolled out on Monday a service dedicated to bringing together qualified wedding photographers and love birds pining for that perfect wedding.
The Hangzhou-based e-commerce group launched its first business-to-customer site called Hunban, which roughly translates to "wedding partner". The site aims to connect clients with customised photography services online.
The launch of the site marks Alibaba's latest push into the services sector. It has already invested in Kuaidi, a taxi-hailing app, and Meituan, a group-buying site.
Chen Guiyi, who is in charge of Alibaba's local life service business unit, said that the company expects to launch more marriage-related services, such as wedding planning and catering, to meet the booming demand of Chinese couples.
Chen said that the wedding celebration market is estimated to reach 800 billion yuan (US$130 billion) in China this year. "Nearly 90 per cent of those who get married need to take wedding photos, which creates a very promising market," he said.
According to Alibaba, Hunban mainly focuses on providing local as well as traveling wedding photographers, the latter intended for newlyweds who wish to commemorate their honeymoons with professional pictures.
About 2,000 photography studios have set up virtual shops on Hunban, which offers plenty of options for those wanting to get their photos taken in Beijing, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, Sanya in Hainan province, Qingdao in Shandong province or Lijiang in Yunnan province.
The site also offers wedding photos abroad. So far, photography services on Hunban are being offered in such countries as Thailand and Indonesia.
Alibaba hopes to lure an increasing number of photography companies and studios to settle on its platform, said Chen.
Lin Wenbin, an analyst with Analysys International, said Hunban will serve to boost user loyalty.
"The majority of Alibaba's users are young people under the age of 35. And a large proportion of them are at the age to get married. The new site can attract their attention and may eventually lead them to purchase other things on Alibaba's online platforms," he said.
Yu Fang, who recently had wedding photos taken in Beijing with her husband, welcomes having a website on which couples can compare prices and read ratings of the various services before making a decision to hire a photographer.
"It is hard to believe you can spend nearly 10,000 yuan for one day just taking photos," she said, adding: "Some of those photography studios rip people off because they know they are willing to pay a lot for their once-in-a lifetime wedding."


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SEARCHED FOR:ACCEL GROWTH
How big is 'E' theme for stock investing; is it too early a bet?
Many established business houses have set up online transaction channels.
VC investors make a beeline to Singapore
India continues to be the core focus area for most of these fund managers, but they do not want to l...
Accel invests $50m in code testing firm BrowserStack
The transaction is expected to value the seven-year-old company at $400-500 million, sai...
CureFit may acquire $75 million in a round led by Accel and Chiratae
The transaction, when completed, is expected to value the health and fitness company at about $500 million
Now, smart lockers solve your delivery dilemmas
With last-mile deliveries and repeated delivery attempts constituting almost 50% of cost for e-commerce players, industry trackers consider the infrastructure a win-win for all stakeholders.
Workplace discussion app Hush bags seed fund from Accel & others
Hush, which was launched in October last year, aims to facilitate candid workplace discussions and enables employee engagement through anonymous conversations.
Subscription management platform Chargebee raises $14 million
The investment takes total funds raised by the company to $38.2 million (nearly Rs 274 crore).
BookYourGame takes Curefit to court, gets an injunction against product
Refuting the allegations, Curefit told ET that the transaction never progressed to definitive closure or to a formal on-boarding of BYG employees.
Stanza Living bolsters leadership team as it looks to scalable growth
The recent hiring underscores the organisation’s focus on leveraging the multiplier advantage of inter-generational leadership.
Indifi raises Rs 145 crore in Series-C funding led by CDC Group
Nearly 80% of India’s MSME enterprises still depend on informal sources to meet their funding requirements.
Bounce is looking to raise $30 million for electric vehicle arm
Existing investors like Accel, Sequoia, Chiratae and others may lead first round.
MindTickle gets $40 million from Norwest, Others
Existing investors Accel Partners, Canaan Partners, NewView Capital and Qualcomm Ventures also participated in the Series-C round.
ET Startup Awards 2019: Nominees for the 'Midas Touch' category
Faith in the innate genius of Indian entrepreneurship has seen many investors striking gold in the past few years. The category ‘Midas Touch’ will fete the best investor of 2019.
Moglix lands $60 million funding led by Tiger Global and Sequoia Capital
The company will primarily use the proceeds to ramp up infrastructure. Moglix is currently present in 14 locations, and plans to be in 22-25 industrial hubs.
Stanza Living targets 10X growth for FY19, to scale volumes 20x
The one-year old firm is looking to scale volumes by 20 times in 2018 targeting 2,000 beds from the 100 it currently has.


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Fifty Shades is UK's best-selling book of all time
Tuesday 07 August 2012
E L James' Fifty Shades of Grey has sold more than 5.3m copies making it the best-selling British book of all time, according to figures released by its publisher.
The book, the first of a trilogy of steamy tales dubbed "mummy porn" has become a literary phenomenon.
Ms James said said: "My main ambition when I signed the deal with Random House was to see my books in the shops. I simply had no idea they would be so successful and this is totally unexpected.
"The whole process has been both extraordinary and rewarding. I couldn't be more pleased with the sales and would like to thank everyone involved."
The second and third books in the trilogy, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, have sold around 3.6m and 3.2m copies respectively.
Susan Sandon, managing director of Cornerstone Publishing which is part of Random House, said: "The Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon is perhaps one of the most extraordinary experiences of my entire publishing career and I feel privileged to be part of it.
"The speed and sheer size of the sales is incredible and the roles played by so many people across the business simply breathtaking.
"Each and every department across editorial, art, finance, legal, publicity, marketing, production and home and international sales has risen to the creative and logistical challenges presented by the trilogy with energy, excitement and passion.
"I take my hat off to the brilliance and professionalism of all involved. And above all, it is so much fun."
Rights to the book have been sold around the world and the trilogy is being published in languages including Albanian, Chinese, Russian, Serbian and Vietnamese.
All three books are due to be filmed as part of a movie deal.
Arts & Ents blogs
- 1 Unseen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory chapter deemed 'too subversive' released
- 2 Ebola virus: It's ripped through towns – now the deadliest ever outbreak of the virus is heading for Africa's teeming cities
- 3 Joan Rivers: 'Palestinians deserve to be dead'
- 4 A teacher speaks out: 'I'm effectively being forced out of a career that I wanted to love'
- 5 Mexican woman becomes world’s 'oldest person' at 127
Unseen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory chapter deemed 'too subversive' released
Doctor Who, Into the Dalek, review: Classic sci-fi adventure has blockbuster spectacle
Nicki Minaj suffers wardrobe malfunction during MTV VMAs performance with Ariana Grande and Jessie J
Best movies on Netflix UK and US: 32 films that will end your endless scrolling
The Leftovers, TV review: Prepare to be bewildered by the latest mystery from the creator of Lost
Robin Williams Emmys tribute led by Billy Crystal criticised for including 'racist' joke about Muslim woman
Rotherham child sex abuse scandal: Labour Home Office to be probed over what Tony Blair's government knew - and when
The Rotherham child abuse scandal is a tale of apologists, misogyny and double standards
What do immigrants really think of Britain? Polish immigrant's Reddit post goes viral
Do you realise just how foolish the UK looks?
With Douglas Carswell joining Ukip, my party has taken another giant step forward
- < Previous
- Next >


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By Madelaine B. Miraflor
Japanese firm Diamond Star Corporation has suddenly signified its intention to buy more Philippine mangoes this season as farmers are reeling from oversupply and falling prices.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who identified the Japanese buyer, said that if there’s a perfect time for other countries to increase their mango imports from the Philippines, that would be now — when the price is low and the output is too high.
Based in Marunouchi Kishimoto, Japan, Diamond Star was founded in 2003 and is into wholesale distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables. Diamond Star has long been importing papayas, pineapple, mango, bananas and even turnips from the Philippines.
But for this season, it said it is buying 100 metric tons (MT) of mangoes, a plan that was delivered to Piñol by Philippine Agriculture Attaché to Japan Samuel Animas.
According to Piñol, Diamond Star revealed its plan five days after the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to Japan, and just a few days since Piñol made an pronouncement that the Philippines is currently facing a 2-million kilos surplus in mango production of mango, pulling prices down to the detriment of producers.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that during the first quarter of the year, production of mango actually dropped by 2.8 percent from 97,700 MT in 2018 to 94,920 MT this year. But as this leaves the industry with a surplus of 2 million kilos of mangoes, average farmgate price also dropped 18 percent to P48.45 a kilo during the period. This further went down in the last few weeks during the peak of this season’s harvest.
Diamond Star officials are expected to join the launch of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Metro Mango Marketing Program, a series of marketing events to sell the fruit crop.


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Elite: Dangerous has been out for years, and until recently, no player has encountered alien life in the game, even though there have been some clues in the game pointing towards aliens. Players have been searching for said aliens since the game was released in December 2014 on PC and August 2015 for Xbox One, with no luck. Until one commander stumbled upon an alien spaceship.
Without any hype train built by teaser videos or multiple developer interviews, it looks like aliens have been found (or added?) to the game. Frontier Developments have all but confirmed that aliens exist in their space exploration and trading game after an Xbox One player called Robert 'DP Sayre' Bettig uploaded some clips on Xbox Game DVR documenting his encounter with alien life. Shortly afterward, the developer tweeted the following: “Commander DP Sayre reported the first known encounter with an Unknown Ship”
Speaking to PC Gamer, DP Sayre explained that his encounter was completely unexpected: "It still hasn't sunk in completely. Messages are still coming in as we're talking. So far everyone has been extremely supportive and congratulatory. I feel honored. Did I ever think I'd be the first? No. This kind of thing is supposed to happen to other people, not me." - Source
It is speculated by players on Reddit that the alien race is known as the Thargoids, an insectoid alien species who are extremely aggressive and have been found in previous titles throughout the years, for example Frontier: First Encounters. The developer isn’t giving anything away just yet. According to the BBC, the developer said that: “We are currently investigating reports of unusual sightings around the Elite Dangerous galaxy, but we are otherwise unable to comment on galactic rumour and speculation.” - Source
Some believe that this might be the start of something big for Elite: Dangerous and that a war with the Thargoids might even be something to consider. After the first encounter, multiple others started reporting contact with alien life and one player even turned his weapons on the insect-like alien beings. The video (embedded below) of the first encounter is chilling to put it lightly. The player didn’t even know what was happening and the alien encounter is exactly what it should be; a frightening occurrence where the player feels helpless.
Watch the clips of the first find combined by YouTuber MrSenseofReason below and then tell us what you think about the first contact with alien life in Elite: Dangerous.
Sources: BBC, Twitter, PC Gamer, Reddit
Sillicur Twitter / MWEB GameZone Twitter | Facebook | YouTube


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Skip to comments.Poll: Majority of Fully Vaccinated Are Still Wearing Masks
Posted on 10/27/2021 2:51:54 PM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
The majority of those who are considered “fully vaccinated” are still wearing masks the bulk of the time when outside their homes, a Yahoo! News/YouGov survey released this week found.
As the Biden Administration and public health officials continue to push for mass vaccinations, originally pitching them as the way to return to pre-pandemic life, a majority of people, including a majority of the vaccinated, are still wearing masks “always” or “most of the time” when outside their home.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
I still see double masks, gloves, face shields, and this woman at Walmart turned to me and shouted, YOU’RE TOO CLOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!! GET BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
... and the ever popular, driving alone in a car while wearing a mask.
My observations at the grocery store is about 30 - 40% not wearing masks in blue CT..
Some CT towns lifting mask mandates, but most haven’t yet.
I’m speaking only for myself here.
I’m double-vaccinated and I’m not wearing a mask in public or outdoors at all. The last time I did was when I flew from Minneapolis to Baltimore back in September - and that’s because I had to!
Of course, we are a different breed out in the "T" part of the Commonwealth, so that may explain it. Or not.
My observations here in liberal Westchester County, NY is 30% of the dopes wear masks behind their steering wheels as they drive their cars...guess they don’t want to give the china flu to their windshield...
Maybe 20% in Springfield Missouri.
I have homicidal impulses when I see a “man” doing that.
Yea same here in CT with the masked solo drivers.
When I went grocery shopping today, there was one young woman wearing a mask. First mask I’ve seen in months.
Its like people who wear sunglasses- at night...
NPCs and Karens.
It’s regional. In the SF Bay area the lunatics are wearing masks when alone in the car.
In Houston, you might see one or two people wearing one, but only inside.
It’s tribal, and a form of mass hysteria, imho.
In Orange County, Calif., about half of those you see on the street wear masks. Some establishments still have signs requiring customers to wear masks. Across the Orange Curtain in LA County, anyone who enters a building is required to wear a mask.
At all state universities, masks are required for anyone who enters a building, and that includes Cal State Long Beach, where I am taking a course. I despise having to wear a mask, but too many of my colleagues insist that masks are the cat’s meow.
You city people are freakin weird. We tossed the masks early last summer in rural MO. We’re not dying en masse.
That seems to coincide with the fact that the majority of Americans are worried about the effectiveness of vaccines over time, as 52 percent, overall, are “worried,” including 17 percent who are “very” worried. Just over one-third are “not worried.” A majority of the fully vaccinated, 57 percent, say they are worried about declining effectiveness as time goes on.
Well at least they are getting something right.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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Small MPVs are all the rage in Europe, but here in North America – the land of "bigger is better" – these moderately-sized people-haulers have never quite sold in droves. Ford firmly believes that it's time to bring the small MPV segment back to North America, and the 2012 C-Max is its first foray into offering this sort of pint-sized family-hauling package here in America.
We've already driven (and enjoyed) the European-spec Grand C-Max, and the good news is that not much will change mechanically before the car arrives here in the States. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine will be the base powertrain with an all-new 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline-four being the up-level mill. The C-Max offers seating for seven (or "five plus two," as Ford says), and the latest crop of Blue Oval tech will be found inside.
The C-Max will go on sale later this year shortly after production begins at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant. We've just finished perusing the new C-Max live at Cobo Hall during the opening hours of the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, so scroll through our high-res gallery of live shots to see the new MPV in the flesh.
Live photos copyright ©2011 Steven J. Ewing / AOL


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Manchester City will switch to a crisp white training jersey next year. Be sure to check out the club's new warm-up jersey, which is anything but clean.
Update: a new sketch that looks a lot like the new design of Manchester United's 17-18 home kit has been leaked.
The first kit for the next season of the Red Devils includes more black colors after the equipment of this season was mainly red and white. Made by adidas and with the Chevrolet logo on the chest, this Cheap Manchester United Shirts will go on sale in July 2017.
After we had learned that Spain's 2018 World Cup jersey would be based on Spain's iconic 1994 jersey, we can now unveil the design of the Spain home jersey for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. As is customary for Adidas, the Spain 2018 jersey will be released in November of this year, with the away team following next March.


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With coronavirus restrictions across the world beginning to relax, we wanted to put our global expertise to practice – sitting down with our Incubeta leadership team to hear their thoughts and opinions on the state of the retail landscape in a post-Covid world.
Matilda Rose Moir
There’s no denying the colossal impact that Covid-19 has had on the retail industry as we know it. Throughout the last year a combination of travel bans, government-mandated lockdowns and physical restrictions rendered bricks-and-mortar stores close to redundant – and ecommerce swooped in to take its place.
Covid-19 completely reshaped the retail landscape; accelerating the already burgeoning growth of online shopping, and fast-tracking digitalization to the forefront of the global marketing industry. In the last year alone we’ve seen a 20.4% increase in digital ad spending, as marketers had to substantially pivot their strategy to support the $4.89 trillion ecommerce spend predicted for 2021. And it doesn’t stop there.
Despite bricks-and-mortar commerce returning to a somewhat ‘pre-Covid’ normality, the consumers’ new found love for digital will continue to prevail throughout the coming years. In short, the shift toward ecommerce is here to stay, and with online shopping set to generate over $6 trillion in global sales by 2024, here’s what brands should know, and consider when planning their approach.
1: Re-adjustment in Ecommerce Spending
The shift away from bricks-and-mortar retail was largely brought about by social distancing restrictions and lockdown regulations – with ecommerce picking up the slack when the highstreets shut. As the world slowly begins to re-open we’ll see a re-adjustment in online shopping as physical stores reopen. We’ve already begun to see a reduction in search volumes and online traffic along with an increase in retail mobility – as measured in Google’s mobility reporting.
That being said, Covid fast-tracked digital adoption, and even during this current re-adjustment period, interest in ecommerce and online retail is still well above that of pre-lockdown levels. The reduction in ecommerce is only temporary, and in most categories traffic and search interest still remains 20-30% above the pre-lockdown baseline numbers.
Analyzing partner data and consumer research we know that lockdown created a new demographic of online shoppers, a high percentage of whom are signalling intent to continue using online for research and purchasing. We’ve seen a huge difference in how consumers shop and, due to speed and ease, they’ll continue to come back online even after the high street re-opens.
Ecommerce has made a leap over the last 18 months, and its share of overall retail will continue to grow – a factor that needs to be taken into consideration when planning marketing outputs.
“We will absolutely see a re-adjustment in certain areas and a partial shift back to offline retail. But many changes in consumer behavior will stay. Online retail is, and will continue to be one of the winners”Leonardo Kopp, Incubeta CH
2: Sustainability & Ethical Marketing
After the initial impact of coronavirus, we saw an increase in customers becoming more interested in a brand’s ethos; such as how they support their staff, their contribution to the public services and their sustainability efforts. Very quickly it became a lot more about the people rather than the product.
In 2021 consumers are increasingly aware of environmental issues, ethical marketing, inclusive practices and their individual footprint. Conscious consumption is on the rise and consumers are demanding more from their brands than ever before.
6 in 10 consumers are willing to alter shopping habits to reduce their environmental impact
Businesses in the top quartile for gender, racial and ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to have financial returns compared to their respective national industry medians
62% of US Consumers will chose brands that realistically capture real-world diversity over those that don’t
Over 71% of consumers are willing to pay a premium for brands that indicate traceability
With time to reflect over the last year, consumers are re-evaluating what is necessary and important. With this comes considerations around supporting brands that advocate for the environment, support those historically underrepresented, excluded or stereotypically portrayed, and their overall social impact on the industry.
Looking forward, brands should strive to embrace real-world diversity, practice sustainability and put their people first – not just to reflect consumer demands but to play a crucial role in their overall performance. Brands that speak with authenticity, are seen to meet the needs of consumers, and tend to engender ‘positive sentiment’ with consumers which leads to a significant performance gain in comparison to brands that don’t.
“Brand ethos has really come into play over the last 18 months, with consumers choosing businesses that support their staff, contribute to the industry and are an advocate for sustainability. Now, more than ever brand ethos and performance growth go hand-in-hand.”Sally Laycock, Incubeta UK CEO
3: The Future Role of the Physical Store
Over the last year we’ve seen a huge difference in how consumers view shopping and retail experiences – particularly when bricks-and-mortar was no longer a viable option. With stores around the world opening up, we will undoubtedly see a partial shift back to offline retail – but many changes in consumer behavior will stay, and online retail will continue to prevail as a dominant channel.
That’s not to say physical shopping and the high street is a thing of the past. It all boils down to experience, and for consumers, shopping is so much more than entering card details and purchasing products – it’s a physical touchpoint that resonates with human needs. This should be considered as such when forecasting. From hereon brands should opt for a strategy that uses digital to support physical – and vice versa. The role of physical retail is still valuable to businesses, but you need to take the time to identify the real drivers of performance within that channel – how are consumers interacting, and how can digital support this interaction.
In the long-term, the lines between physical retail and ecommerce will become increasingly blurred as consumers distinguish less between where they research and how they purchase.
“With stores, and physical retail opening up, consumers will begin to migrate back to the highstreet, and with that comes the opportunity for an omnichannel approach. Brands should consider the integration of offline tracking to help ensure paid activity is credited for in-store sales and optimisation happens accordingly”Lani Cummins, Incubeta AUS
4: Product Investment
Since the easing of lockdown restrictions and store closures, we’ve already seen a substantial change in user behaviour with interest increases in specific sectors such as beauty, apparel and luxury retail.
Accompanying this we expect to see an increase in consumers thinking about investing in premium products above their usual price threshold – such as garden furniture, jewellery, gifts and travel. In the US alone, over 50% of consumers are predicted to splash out on expensive gifts, products and services in the coming months – with those from a higher-income background expected to spend the most.
This sudden spend increase is brought about by consumers ‘making up’ for the missed opportunities throughout 2020, and brands can use this to their advantage – targeting a wider demographic of consumers, who’d previously have been the wrong target audience.
Current Market Status
UK: Lockdown restrictions are easing across the UK, with certain areas lifting restrictions faster than others. People are able to meet in small groups in restaurants and pubs, hotels are open, up to 30 people can meet outside and 6 people or up to 2 households can meet indoors with overnight stays allowed. No face coverings are required in secondary schools and travel abroad to green list countries is allowed without having to quarantine on return.
The vaccination program is going very well in the UK. By the end of July the government expects all +18 year olds to be offered their first vaccination and therefore all +18 year olds will be fully vaccinated by the end of October.
USA: Across the US, more than 61 percent of adults have received at least one vaccine, which is set to increase to approximately 70% by July 4. As a result, the government is rolling out a patchwork of restrictions across the country with orders varying by state, county and even city. Mask restrictions are being lifted for those with a vaccination, bars and restaurants are beginning to re-open their inside facilities, and gyms are also beginning to open up.
Australia/New Zealand: As it stands there are currently no lockdown restrictions or regulations in place. Residents are free to travel domestically across state and a travel bubble has just been opened to New Zealand.
South Africa: South Africa currently sits within an Alert Level 1, meaning that most normal activity can resume, with precautions and health guidelines followed at all times. That being said, working from home is almost mandatory, there is a daily curfew from midnight to 4am, masks must be worn in public, no large indoor gatherings are allowed and no live spectators are permitted at sports events.
SouthEast Asia: Across all key markets – Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia – there are high levels of lockdown restrictions and regulations. Both Thailand and Vietnam have increased their quarantine periods, and with recent outbreaks in Thailand, Laos and India the majority of SouthEast Asia is experiencing severe lockdown restrictions and daily curfews. We don’t expect the country to return to any sense of normalcy until the end of 2021.
Spain: Restrictions across Spain vary depending on region. Certain regions, such as Madrid, have more freedom than others – with restaurants having been fully open since the start of 2021. Whereas other regions, such as Barcelona have much tighter rules and regulations. Across the country, everyone must remain at home between the hours of 23:00-6:00 – yet this is set to change throughout the course of May and June as government regulations change and restrictions will become solely regionally-specific.
Switzerland: Switzerland’s vaccination roll-out continues to accelerate, with restrictions relaxing due to stabilized rates of infection and hospitalization. As it stands, masks are still required and indoor restaurants are shut. There are also limitations on the number of clients per square meter for local stores. However, come May 26th the Swiss government is reassessing the severity of the situation and Switzerland could begin to open up again – with larger events and gatherings expected from June onwards.
All things considered, the road to recovery is steadily approaching, and as we settle comfortably into the second quarter of the year, brands should be preparing their strategy to compliment a post-Covid world.
Looking to the future, marketers should strive to complete the following.
Maintain a Strong Digital Presence & Approach
Practice Brand Authenticity
Adopt an Omni-Channel Approach
Put Consumers at the Heart of Your Strategy
The last 18 months have been tough on consumers and retailers alike, but with the end very much in sight, we’re entering a unique period of opportunity, and now is the time to breathe life back into the retail industry.


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another bubble forming, this time in China's electronics sector. Market
research firm iSuppli fears that China's electronics manufacturers
could be hard hit by the fallout if China's overheating economy catches a cold.
Byron Wu, iSuppli analyst, wonders how long Chinese OEMs can
continue expanding their sales, whether buying power will continue to
increase among consumers and whether exports will remain on the rise.
But Wu said these factors do not represent a major risk for the
semiconductor industry, where growth has actually decelerated compared
to a few years ago. After expanding by almost 40% in 2004, China's chip
industry has settled into a more sustainable average growth rate
ranging from 10 to 20%.
For 2007, semiconductor shipments in China are predicted to rise 20%
to almost $52bn. This compares to 15 percent revenue growth in 2006.
The current year will represent the cyclical peak for China's chip
market, with growth expected to cool in the coming years.
No surprise to hear that one of the hottest segments of China's
electronics OEMs is flat-panel televisions, which are rapidly replacing
CRT sets in China and elsewhere. By 2010, China's output of flat-panel
televisions will surpass CRT TVs.
Other lucrative areas include digital set-top boxes, 3G mobile
phones and so-called Digital Multimedia Platforms (DMPs). DMPs are
converged personal multimedia products that combine functions, such as
MP3 players with mobile TV, MP3 players with GPS, and digital still
cameras that double as camcorders.
The iSuppli figures were unveiled at a recent World Semiconductor
Trade Statistics (WSTS) committee meeting which, for the first time,
was held in China. That alone speaks volumes for the growing importance
of China's electronics industry to the world's chipmakers.
Elsewhere on the electronics front:
TCL, the Chinese TV manufacturer, saw its loss for 2006 widen to
HK$2.5bn compared to less than HK$600m in 2005. Overall performance was
heavily affected by TCL's heavily loss-making European operations which
previously operated as a JV between TCL Multimedia and Thomson of
France. That business was officially declared insolvent last week but
TCL Multimedia continues to operate in Europe, although the TVs are no
longer made in France. The drastic medicine appears to have worked as
TCL forecasts it will make its first-ever profit in Europe next year.


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Beset by years of poor performance, the retailer’s value has fallen below the threshold for inclusion.
The company’s value is now pitched below the £ 4.2bn benchmark required to secure a place.
Once a stalwart of the British high street, changing shopping habits and the emergence of fast fashion have left M&S struggling to keep up.
The last three years have seen the company’s value slide 45%.
Former Tory MP and ITV boss Archie Norman has been at the helm of the company since September 2017.
It’s the second time the former environment secretary has steered a company out of the stock market’s top tier – the first time was during his time working broadcasting.
But he remained adamant the end is not nigh for the business.
He said: “When I went to ITV we dropped out of the FTSE 100, the sky didn’t fall in – the business was the same business the day after. “
The relegation is symbolic of Britain’s ailing high streets. Retail analyst Helal Miah believes the food, clothing and sundries supplier’s fall is “highly symbolic of the troubles on the UK high street and the challenges the UK retail sector faces as the internet plays an increasingly important role”.
M&S may not be the last retail stalwart to find itself in the FTSE 250, with Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and B&Q owner Kingfisher all set to be contenders for relegation in the next Reshuffle.
(Read More) ************************


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Consumers Embracing Technology in Master Baths, Study Finds
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ — Consumers are embracing Wi-Fi connectivity, voice activation, comfort features and water-leak detection as much-desired features in today’s bathrooms, resulting in an increased need for designers and technology integrators to collaborate on projects.
That’s the key conclusion of the “Bathroom Technology Awareness and Usage Report,” a research study conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association, which found that 60% of surveyed homeowners say they want technology in their master bathrooms. Their goal: to enhance the space with products and capabilities that create a comfortable, relaxing and safe area.
According to the study – commissioned by the NKBA in collaboration with the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) – top-of-mind tech solutions for homeowners include smart showers, heated floors, centralized and motion-control lighting, leak-detection devices connected to mobile apps, sound systems and connectivity.
While 60% of surveyed consumers feel technology is essential in the master bathroom, 60% of designers and 68% of technology pros do not, “demonstrating a significant gap between consumer knowledge and use as compared with trade professional awareness of consumer knowledge and use of the technology,” according to the NKBA.
“Homeowners are bringing technology into their homes,” said Suzie Williford, executive v.p./industry relations and chief strategy officer for the NKBA. “They’re knowledgeable about what’s out there and are comfortable asking for it.”
The NKBA survey found that homeowners are savvy about their desire for smart plumbing devices like automatic temperature adjustment (69%), hands-free or touch-free faucets (64%), water-leak alerts to mobile devices (63%), hands-free/touch-free toilet (63%) and tubs/showers that can be adjusted remotely from mobile devices (56%). Lighting controls from one location (60%) and motion-sensor lighting (59%) are also top items for homeowners.
Despite integrators actively promoting structured wiring, remote locks and video monitoring, “few homeowners have experience with these products,” the NKBA said. By bringing technology integrators into project planning discussions early, “the integrators and designers can help homeowners make better decisions and plan for seamless design and tech integration,” the Hackettstown, NJ-based trade association added.
“Designers and technology integrators collaborating on master bathroom projects can add value to their roles by alleviating homeowner questions, providing confidence and guiding product decisions,” said the NKBA, adding that designers “would appreciate receiving more training and education from technology integrators, offering broad overviews of bathroom technology, presentations on successful integrations and pricing guidelines.
“The opportunity for designers and technology integrators to partner on master bathroom projects is great, as homeowners value the advice offered by designers and integrators to create a smooth integration of technology systems throughout their home, without a ‘techy’ look,” the NKBA concluded.


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A major – and much needed – policy change is about to take effect in the health and beauty industry. Starting in July, companies will no longer be allowed to manufacture products containing microbeads… and it’s about time.
The next time you wash your face or jump in the shower, take a close look at your favorite scrub or skin polish. Is it packed with little beads? Those are tiny pieces of plastic. They give skin care products a gritty texture which helps to slough off dead skin cells and clear dirt from pores. But, microbeads do a lot more harm than good, they’re bad for the environment and even worse for your health.
Read on to learn more about the impact of microbeads, and what we can do to keep ourselves, and the environment, safe and healthy.
According the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), plastic is the most prevalent type of marine debris – and much of it is microbeads. So, where does it all come from?
In 2015, Dr. Chelsea Rochman, an assistant professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto, partnered with leading environmental scientists to study the ecological impact of microbeads. The study estimates 808 trillion microbeads from personal care products are washed down American drains daily. Wastewater treatment facilities aren’t equipped to filter out such minute particles, so nearly eight trillion are swept right into oceans, lakes, and rivers.
The Effects on Ecology and Your Health
Microbeads are synthetic polymers and they can attract and absorb other environmental contaminants like the now-banned pesticide DDT and industrial chemicals like PCBs. They’re a major source of marine debris, and they contaminate the food supply when aquatic animals eat the tiny pieces of plastic. Eventually, these plastic beads work their way up the food chain, and have been found in fish routinely consumed by humans. That’s right, your fish tacos, salmon fillet or spicy tuna roll might come with a side of microbeads. And cellular necrosis, inflammation and tissue laceration are just a few of the negative health effects of eating contaminated seafood.
Prevention Is Key
The sheer number of microbeads pouring into our waterways, coupled with the miniscule size of the contaminates, makes a large-scale cleanup unlikely. Fortunately, Dr. Rochman’s study along with advocacy from organizations like 5 Gyres helped to pass the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, which bans the manufacture of rinse-off cosmetics containing microbeads starting July 2017. Unfortunately, those products will still be on store shelves until January 2018.
So, for now, the best way to reduce ongoing microbead pollution is by making a switch to natural, biodegradable alternatives. Natural scrubs contain sugar and/or apricot kernels as a main exfoliating agent. Gentle cleansers use non-abrasive jojoba beads. Even a mask or serum containing vitamin C can slough off dead cells. Any of these options are easier on skin than harsh microbead-infused cleansers, and most importantly, they’re safer for the environment and your long-term health.


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Nokian Tyres has set the wheels in motion to hire staff at its new tire production plant in Southeast Tennessee, USA.
The Scandinavian tire company plans to take on between 40 and 50 production team members in the first quarter of 2019. In this first phase of hiring, it seeks experienced manufacturing workers to fill a variety of positions at every level of the organization.
The company is interested in candidates with varying levels of manufacturing experience, including skilled production workers, manufacturing operations professionals and maintenance technicians. It is especially interested in candidates with strong interpersonal skills, such as communication, teamwork, problem solving and leadership.
Opportunities are available in the following areas:
– Tire production;
– Maintenance; and
– General factory overhead.
“The new team members will work in one of the most advanced tire manufacturing facilities in the world,” said operations director of the Dayton factory, Peter Chia.
“We are committed to giving our workers everything they need to succeed, including in-depth training, competitive wages and a positive workplace culture.”
Operations are scheduled to go online at the Dayton factory in 2020. By the end of 2019, the company aims to have hired and trained approximately 150 team members.
Eventually, the factory will employ around 400 people, which will produce four million tires per year when it reaches full capacity.
Once workers are on board, many will have the opportunity to train at Nokian Tyres’ factories in Europe. All staff will receive a chance to grow their careers.
“Nokian Tyres has a long history of making innovative products in a safe environment where its team members can thrive. We’re enthusiastic about being an employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee.”
Interested candidates are invited to apply here.


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Disney stock slips following Q2 subscriber miss
Disney's stock was down nearly 5% in after-hours trading Thursday after the entertainment giant said it brought in 103.6 million subscribers for Disney+ last quarter, versus the 109.3 million expected by Wall Street.
Why it matters: It's the first time Disney disappointed on subscriber growth since launching the service in November 2019. Disney+ grew very quickly in 2020. The company said in March it surpassed 100 million subscribers worldwide.
- Disney's streaming business has helped the company survive the pandemic, as lockdowns continue to eat away at parks, resorts and theater revenues.
By the numbers: Disney said it missed Wall Street expectations on revenue and average revenue per user (ARPU) for Disney+ subscribers. ARPU for Disney+ subscribers continued to fall last quarter to just $3.99, the company said in a press release.
- The ARPU drop is due to Disney now including subscribers to its Indian subscription streaming service, Hotstar, in its calculations. The ARPU for Hotstar was down significantly last quarter in large part because of timing of the IPL cricket matches changing, bringing in less ad revenue for the service.
- If it weren't for Hotstar, Disney said its ARPU would've been $5.61. Hotstar makes up a significant portion of Disney+ subscriptions. Last quarter, Hotstar subscriptions made up 1/3 of all new subscribers.
- Moving forward, Disney executives say they expect ARPU to increase throughout the year, as Disney+ price increases kick in. Still, Disney+'s ARPU is significantly less than that of some rival streamers, like Netflix.
Yes, but: The ARPU per paid subscriber was up slightly for Disney’s other streaming platforms, Hulu and ESPN+. The ARPU for Hulu was $12.08 and the ARPU for ESPN+ was $4.55. The ARPU for Hulu+ Live TV was $81.83.
What to watch: Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced a few new deals and updates. He said the CDC's guidelines out Thursday make him optimistic that the parks and theaters businesses will continue to recover.
- Disney reopened its California theme parks in late April. Chapek said intent to visit has gone up since parks have reopened.
- Thanks to the pandemic recovery, Chapek said two films, "Free Guy" and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," will be released with 45-day exclusive theatrical windows on Aug 13 and Sept 3, respectively.
- He announced two additional exclusive sports rights deals, including a renewed deal through 2028 with MLB with 30 exclusive regular season games and an 8-year deal with top division in Spanish Club football, LaLiga, beginning in August.
Flashback: Q1 earnings


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Dealership owner Rick Case said Monday that the vehicles were among those brought by customers to the collision shop and were "already totaled and worthless."
Case, an industry leader, said the fire was the first in his 50-year career selling cars. It did not hurt his business or other customers' property, Case said.
To watch the video and read the whole story, go to: http://sunsent.nl/JdXQ5R
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In a move that could help in a tough re-election fight, Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants to roll back the fees that motorists pay to register their cars.


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Bolstered by the First Order for Its Model One, Sonoma Acoustics Heads to CanJam NYC
Bolstered by the First Order for its Model One Sonoma Acoustics Heads to CanJam NYC
Tokyo—January 31, 2017—Sonoma Acoustics announced today that it had received the first order for its Model One (M1) Electrostatic Headphone System from Emilai Inc, its distributor in Japan. The company made the announcement as it prepared to show the M1 at CanJam NYC scheduled for February 4-5, 2017 at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. This will be the first time that the M1 has been demonstrated in the New York area.
“We couldn’t be happier about getting this first order from the folks at Emilai,” said David Kawakami, GM, Sonoma Acoustics. “After first meeting Emilai at RMAF in Denver last October, we have been working closely with them ever since to plan the introduction of the M1 in Japan.”
Kenzo Kono, Founder & CEO of Emilai, commented, “We love the whole Sonoma story and, based on the reactions to the Model One we witnessed at the two biggest headphone festivals in Tokyo, we want to be the first to offer this product in Japan.”
Sonoma Acoustics, which began showing prototypes of its M1 Electrostatic Headphone System at CanJam London in August 2016, is very close to shipping the first production units in the UK, US and Japan. The M1 is the world’s first headphone system to incorporate the revolutionary High-Precision Electrostatic Laminate (HPEL) transducer developed by Warwick Audio Technologies in the UK.
“With the spring launch around the corner, we’re looking forward to being back in New York where we all worked during our days when the SACD project was headquartered there,” Kawakami said. “We have lots of friends in the press and golden ear community in New York and can’t wait to get their feedback on the M1.”
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Spokane business owners hope new downtown stadium brings more people to the area
SPOKANE, Wash — While the new downtown Spokane stadium won’t be constructed until next summer, surrounding businesses are already thinking about what it could mean for them.
Owner of Shala Living Yoga Ara Lyman watched the progress being made across the street every single day. She says she sees it as the potential for new development.
“I was part of the studio, 12 years ago, when it was first created and it has generally, the neighborhood has generally felt the same, ever since then,” Lyman said. “So yeah, this is going to be interesting to see what happens.”
More development means more eyes on their business. Right now, its location on Boone Avenue feels more like a drive-through area with fewer people walking around.
Realtor Bruce Van Coot believes that’s going to change once the stadium is built.
“With the entertainment, there’s going to be great opportunities for things like AirBnB’s unit, we’d love to see some multi-use stuff going down there, he said. “Just because you do have the walkability down in that area.”
He already has a space available to rent right on Stevens Street and Sharpe. He believes within the next five to 10 years, once there are more people in the area, restaurants and businesses will follow.
“It’s going to be a place where people will now say ‘okay this is a place where I can now put a restaurant, this is a place where I can put my small retail space, you know this is a perfect place for an office space,” Coot said.
The construction of the new stadium will be complete by late-summer 2023.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ‘This is going to change the skyline’: Construction on downtown Spokane stadium underway
RELATED: Demolition permits filed for Joe Albi Stadium
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Erikson Consumer has announced a new partnership with wireless accessories company PureGear to distribute the company’s products in Canada.
“Adding PureGear was a natural fit for our brand portfolio,” says Wayne Mayall, Vice President, Erikson Consumer. “PureGear is a leading supplier of mobile accessories, such as screen protectors, phone cases, and chargers. From now on, Erikson Consumer will be distributing full range of their products in Canada.”
“This partnership was the perfect fit for our two companies,” adds Mike Cavanah, President of PureGear. “This is another solid step in our journey to expand and further strengthen our position in Canada.”Erikson Consumer, located in Baie D’Urfe, QC, is the consumer electronics division of Jam Industries.


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New report by Citizens Advice shows benefit claimants struggling to meet essential costs
New data from national Citizens Advice reveals that almost one in two (49%) benefits claimants have struggled to pay for essentials, while 40% have lost sleep due to money worries. Two in five (39%) of people who claim have less than £100 at the end of each month, after paying for essential bills. Citizens Advice has added its voice to the call for urgent solutions from the government. This includes:
Proposed changes to shared ownership scheme
The government has announced plans to change its shared ownership scheme to encourage first time buyers onto the property ladder. Shared ownership home buyers are required to buy back the government-owned part of their home in chunks of 10%. The government is proposing to reduce the buy-back increments to 1% chunks. It was also announced Help to Buy homeowners will be able to take out mortgages of up to 35 years, rather than 25 years meaning they can reduce their monthly repayments by spreading their borrowing over a longer period.
Supermarkets still offering ‘misleading’ special offers
Supermarkets continue to offer misleading special offers and discounts despite rules to prevent this, according to Which? These included multi-buys that cost more despite the alleged offer, and special offers in which goods are sold at the special price most of the year. Which? analysed prices from May 2018 to June 2019 for 459 products across seven of the UK’s biggest supermarkets: Asda, Iceland, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose. A similar Which? investigation in 2015 resulted in the government rolling out new guidance to ensure retailers’ pricing practices complied with consumer law.
Online banking “Strong Customer Authentication” rules
Under new security regulations being introduced over an 18 month period from September 14, banks will no longer allow customers to log in online using only a password and memorable information. All customers will be sent a code “secure key” to their handheld card reader or mobile phone to enable them to login in. Some banks are already starting to introduce the “secure key” login method.


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WASHINGTON—Consumers and health plans could save more than $26.4 billion over the next five years by using cheaper generic versions of 14 brand-name drugs that are scheduled to lose their patent protection by 2009, according to a study released Tuesday.
Copycat versions of those drugs, which older Americans commonly use, could help Medicare shave $23.3 billion off its prescription-drug spending over the same period, the study by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association indicates.
The association's study looked at 14 of the top 100 drugs that older consumers use, including the cholesterol medications Zocor and Pravachol, heart disease medications Norvasc and Lotrel, mental health drugs Zoloft and Risperdal, the allergy medication Zyrtec and the hypertension drug Coreg. Seniors account for about 47 percent of sales for the drugs in the study.
A recent study by Consumers Union found that Medicare could save $8.2 billion, or 58 percent, in 2007 just by beneficiaries using cheaper generic statins to reduce cholesterol. Generic drugs typically are 60 percent cheaper than the original versions; the savings can run from 30 percent to 80 percent.
But the expected savings from the new wave of generics aren't guaranteed.
Drug companies have a variety of ways to delay or prevent generic competition for as long as possible because prices and market share for top-selling medications can fall by more than half once a generic competitor enters the market.
Mark Merritt, the president of the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, said drug manufacturers could try to extend the expiring patent lives of certain medications, file additional patents on existing drugs, or file legal challenges to generic competitors, all in an effort to preserve sales and profits.
"This is not a slam dunk," Merritt said of the potential new generics. "There's an agenda to prevent generics getting to the market as fast as they could, and should any of these tactics prevail or proliferate it could be harmful to the cost-saving benefits."
A report in the current edition of Business Week said that Peter Dolan, the chief executive official of Bristol-Myers Squibb and the new chairman of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the leading trade group for drug manufacturers, would begin a legal push to extend drug-patent protections permanently.
Such patents typically run for 20 years, but the clock begins ticking when a new compound is discovered, not when it receives federal approval. That lag time can eat up more than half of a drug's patent period before it even hits the market.
Ken Johnson, a senior vice president for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said making sure that America's pharmaceutical research companies have adequate patent protection to sustain their innovation "is always a priority. We are not at this point developing any new policy or legislative initiatives. However, we will always fight to keep the pipeline of new drug discovery open."
(c) 2006, Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
Need to map


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The latest U.S. inflation numbers have been released, and they indicate that prices continue to rise. Inflation in the US is ahead of the rest of the world by more than 3 percentage points according to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. This could be the reason why the US has outpaced the average world rate of inflation over the past decade. However, the bank’s top policy advisor, Oscar Jorda, cautions that it is important not to make too much of these figures. The overall picture is clear.
Inflation rates are determined by a variety of factors. The CPI is the price index that is used by the government to gauge inflation. It is calculated by the Labor Department through a survey of households. It measures spending on goods or services however it does not include non-direct spending, making the CPI less stable. This is why inflation data should be viewed in context, not in isolation.
The Consumer Price Index, which tracks changes in the prices of items and services, is the most commonly used inflation rate in the United States. The index is updated every month and shows how much prices have risen. The index is a helpful tool to plan and budget. Consumers are likely to be concerned about the cost of goods and services. However, it is important to understand the reasons why prices are rising.
The cost of production goes up and prices rise. This is sometimes called cost-push inflation. It is characterized by rising costs for raw materials, like petroleum products and precious metals. It can also impact agricultural products. It is important to note that when the price of a commodity rise, it also affects the value of the commodity.
Inflation figures are usually difficult to come by, but there is a method that can aid in calculating the amount it costs to purchase products and services throughout the year. The real rate of return (CRR), is a better measure of the nominal annual investment. Keep this in mind when you’re considering investing in bonds or stocks next time.
Presently, the Consumer Price Index is 8.3 percent higher than its year-earlier level. This is the highest annual rate since April 1986. Inflation will continue to rise as rents constitute a large part of the CPI basket. Inflation is also triggered by the rising cost of housing and mortgage rates, which make it more difficult to purchase a home. This drives up the demand for housing rental. The impact that railroad workers working on the US railroad system could lead to interruptions in the transportation and movement of goods.
From its near zero-target rate, the Fed’s short term interest rate has increased this year to 2.25 percent. The central bank has forecast that inflation will rise by only a half point in the next year. It isn’t easy to know the extent to which this increase is enough to stop inflation.
The rate of inflation that is the core which excludes volatile oil and food prices, is approximately 2%. Core inflation is reported on a year to one-year basis by the Federal Reserve. This is what it means when it declares that its inflation target of 2 percent is. The core rate has been in the lower range of its target for a long time. However, it has recently begun to rise to a level that is threatening many businesses.


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10th Aug 2011. The internet has transformed the Australian economy over the last 10 years, and is poised to play an even greater role in our daily
lives and businesses as Australia positions itself to become a leading digital economy.
The direct contribution of the internet to the Australian economy is worth approximately $50 billion or 3.6% of Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2010. This contribution is of similar value to the retail sector or Australia’s iron ore exports.
But, just as the roll out of electricity changed many aspects of peoples’ lives and transformed the way businesses operate, the internet provides wider
benefits beyond its direct economic impact. These wider benefits – which are not fully captured in GDP calculations – include:
- Approximately $27 billion in productivity increases to businesses and government in the form of improvements to the way they operate and deliver services. These services also flow through to consumers through lower prices and the introduction of new products
- The equivalent of $53 billion in benefits to households in the form of added convenience (e.g. of online banking and bill paying) and access to an increased variety of goods and services and information.
Growth in internet activity is accelerating. This is driven by infrastructure investment, the uptake of new technologies (e.g. smartphones) providing
access to the internet, new applications such as social media sites and an increase in business and government use of the internet.
The direct contribution of the internet to the Australian economy is set to increase by $20 billion over the next five years, from $50 billion to roughly $70 billion.
- This represents a growth rate (at 7%) that is twice as fast as that forecasted for the rest of the economy and will see the internet’s contribution approach that of the healthcare sector today
- Over the same period the growth of the internet will also result in approximately 80,000 more Australians employed in areas directly related to the internet