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comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, released results from a study of online shopping in Europe. In January 2011, 270.6 million unique visitors in Europe visited sites in the Retail category, representing a market penetration of 74.5 percent of Internet users, up 8.5 percentage points versus last year. Retail sites also showed high penetration in individual markets, reaching at least 75 percent of the total online audience in 7 out of 18 European markets. In 2010, approximately one out of every ten Internet sessions in Europe included a visit to a retail site.

In January 2011 compared with December 2010, the euro area (EA17) industrial new orders index rose by 0.1%. In December 2010 the index grew by 2.7%. In the EU27, new orders increased by 0.2% in January 2011, after a rise of 2.9% in December 2010. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment, for which changes tend to be more volatile, industrial new orders increased by 1.6% in the euro area and by 1.9% in the EU27.

Employers took 1,421 mass layoff actions in February involving 130,818 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Each mass layoff involved at least 50 workers from a single employer. The number of mass layoff events in February decreased by 113 from January, and the number of associated initial claims decreased by 18,981. In February, 291 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector, seasonally adjusted, resulting in 26,060 initial claims. Both figures decreased over the month, with manufacturing initial claims reaching its lowest level in program history (data begin in April 1995).

Governments looking to boost their economies, create jobs and meet environmental targets see eco-innovation as part of the solution. Some subsidise research and development. Others stimulate demand by labelling energy efficient appliances and regulating against environmentally harmful products. All are looking for efficient policies to make it work.

The sales price of newly constructed residential buildings in 70 large and medium-sized cities decreased in 8 cities and that of remained the same level in 6 cities comparing with the previous month.

GFI Software, a leading IT solutions provider for small and medium-sized enterprises, announced the results of an independent survey conducted by Opinion Matters, in which more than 200 U.S.-based IT decision makers participated. The study commissioned by GFI revealed a dramatic lack of adoption of email archiving. 62.4% of SMEs do not currently use a mail archiving solution - opening the door to a host of issues including: limited email backup and restore, which could lead to data loss; an inability to search for pertinent messages in the event of an audit or eDiscovery request – which could result in costly compliance violations or legal suits; strain on Exchange servers; and storage problems.

The economy continues to show increasing signs of self-sustaining momentum, however an unexpected jump in oil prices and the potential for further tightening of fiscal policy suggest less economic momentum than previously believed, according to the March 2011 Economic Outlook released by Fannie Mae's Economics & Mortgage Market Analysis Group. Projected economic growth for the year was lowered to 3.5 percent – down slightly from 3.7 percent in February 2011, but up from 2.7 percent annual growth in 2010.

At EU level, the economic crisis resulted in a decrease in road and rail freight transport in 2008 and 2009, after several years of an upward trend. In the EU27, road freight transport was down by 10% in 2009, after a fall of 2% in 2008. Rail freight transport was down by 17% in 2009, after a drop of 2% in 2008.

While oil prices rise in response to unrest in oil producing nations and increased demand from growing nations, Americans continue to discuss and consider alternative energy options and lifestyle changes amidst a slow economic recovery. Six in ten (61%) Americans describe themselves as knowledgeable about energy issues, including sources of electrical power and energy efficiency. This is relatively unchanged since 2009 when 59% of Americans described themselves as knowledgeable about energy issues.

As health care reform marks its one-year anniversary, a new Deloitte report reveals that consumers are spending $363 billion, or 14.7 percent more, on health care than traditionally reported in official government accounts. This spending falls outside of conventionally-counted health care costs such as doctors, prescriptions, hospitals and health insurance coverage. Demonstrating the significance of the amount consumers now spend on health care, the additional costs captured in the new Deloitte study support an increase in consumer discretionary spending on health care from 16.2 percent, for items traditionally reported by the government, to 19.9 percent, which surpasses housing and utility costs at 18.8 percent.