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With gas prices reaching their highest level in recent history, $3.10 a gallon for regular unleaded, a majority of consumers plan to take steps to combat the hit to their wallets. According to the latest Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research study on gas price effects, half of new vehicle shoppers plan to purchase less retail items such as clothes and shoes, more than a third plan to eat out less often, and another third plan to buy less media entertainment items as long as gas prices continue to squeeze their wallets. Luxuries like a night out on the town, music sales, as well as movie ticket sales could all experience declines through the summer when gas prices are expected to top $4 a gallon.

CCID Consulting recently released a report by its Semiconductor Industry Research Center, on the development of China's IC Industry in Q1. Entering 2007, the global semiconductor market notably showed a trend of lack of reserve strength for growth.

Telecommunication service providers that offer a full suite of products such as voice, data, Internet and wireless mobility services stand a better chance of increasing their market share and financial outlook compared to providers that offer only one service, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Business Wireless Satisfaction Study(SM).

The Internet is revolutionizing the way we live, work, communicate, access information, and entertain ourselves. IDC recently found that more than 70% of Americans are using the Internet on a daily basis for private and/or business use.

The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE)released the results of a national survey showing that a large majority of owners and employees of America's micro- businesses do not have access to retirement plans and are financially unprepared for retirement.

comScore announced the results of a study of the European online travel industry, revealing that 108.6 million Europeans - or half of the total European online population aged 15 and older - visited a travel related site during March 2007, an increase in traffic of 6 percent versus March 2006.

The Conference Board announced that the U.S. leading index decreased 0.5 percent, the coincident index increased 0.2 percent and the lagging index increased 0.2 percent in April.

During the 1st International Conference on the Protection of the Euro against Counterfeiting organised by Europol in collaboration with the European Central Bank, which took place in The Hague, The Netherlands on 15 and 16 May 2007, it was clearly stated that the euro is well protected.

The highest paying occupations in the U.S. in 2006 included physician specialists, chief executives, dentists, airline pilots, lawyers, air traffic controllers, and engineering managers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Semiconductor Industry Research Center of CCID Consulting recently reviewed China's mobile phone production in Q1, 2007. Compared to the last quarter, production of mobile phones slowed down in Q1, but developments in high end products such as smart phones are expected to drive output upwards by end of 2007.