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Spending on long-term care in OECD countries is set to double, even triple, by 2050, driven by ageing populations. Governments need to make their long-term care policies more affordable and provide better support for family careers and professionals, according to a new OECD report.

U.S. employers can expect to see healthcare costs rise by 8.5 percent in 2012, compared with an increase of 8 percent in 2011, according to the annual Behind the Numbers report on medical cost trends, published by PwC's Health Research Institute. However, mitigating changes in health benefit plan designs, including increased cost-sharing with employees, could keep employers' costs increases to an average of 7 percent next year. Meanwhile, American workers are beginning to show signs of post-recession stress and the effects of delayed care taking a toll on their health.

New findings from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index® (WBI) show that Americans over age 65 are experiencing the highest overall well-being. The report shows that as Americans age, there is a steady increase in healthy behaviors, work environment satisfaction and basic access to necessities peaking with those over 65. Older Americans are also thriving in the area of emotional health and are reportedly less sad and depressed than any other age group. They are falling slightly behind other age groups in life evaluation and physical health.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index®(LEI) for Spain declined 0.6 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index®(CEI) increased 0.1 percent in March.

Advertisements for job openings in higher education rose 40.2 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from a year earlier and even exceeded pre-recession levels, according to a new report from HigherEdJobs, the leading source for jobs and career information in academia.

Retailers are paying close attention to consumer behavior this year as climbing sales indicate consumers are spending more freely, according to a study by BDO USA, LLP, a leading accounting and consulting organization. The RiskFactor Report for Retail Businesses, which examines the risk factors listed in the most recent SEC 10-K filings of the largest 100 public U.S. retailers, found consumer confidence and spending is less of a concern this year as it fell from the fifth most cited risk factor in 2010 to the 11th. Retailers are more concerned over consumer demand and interest (87%), a jump from 2010 (63%), as they shift their focus to gaining the consumers’ attention with attractive merchandise offerings. Despite general economic conditions remaining the top risk (97%), the decline in risks associated with consumer spending indicates retailer confidence in the recovery is increasing.

One size does not fit all when it comes to enticing online shoppers to buy, according to a new consumer survey released from SteelHouse.

U.S. chief financial officers (CFOs) of middle-market companies are becoming more positive on the state of the industries in which they operate, as well as on the outlook for growth, according to the latest GE Capital survey of middle-market CFOs. In fact, their level of optimism has increased substantially since they were first surveyed in January 2010.

Retail salespersons and cashiers were the occupations with the highest employment in 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. These two occupations combined made up nearly 6 percent of total U.S. employment, with employment levels of 4.2 and 3.4 million, respectively.

Economic growth is expected to continue in the United States throughout the remainder of 2011, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in their spring 2011 Semiannual Economic Forecast. Expectations for the remainder of 2011 have improved in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors.