Menu

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of private-company executives surveyed for PwC US's Private Company Trendsetter Barometer say they're optimistic about the US economy's prospects over the next 12 months. This is the highest level of confidence that Trendsetter chief executives have shown about the US economy since the second quarter of 2007 (when their confidence level was 64%) and up 24 points from the third quarter of 2010. Meanwhile, optimism in the global economy also rose, with 56% of private companies that have an international presence expressing their confidence in global economic growth, compared with 43% in the previous quarter.

Data through December 2010, released today by Standard & Poor's for its S&P/Case-Shiller(1) Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, show that the U.S. National Home Price Index declined by 3.9% during the fourth quarter of 2010. The National Index is down 4.1% versus the fourth quarter of 2009, which is the lowest annual growth rate since the third quarter of 2009, when prices were falling at an 8.6% annual rate. As of December 2010, 18 of the 20 MSAs covered by S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices and both monthly composites were down compared to December 2009. Both Los Angeles and San Francisco reported negative annual rates of return in December, leaving San Diego and Washington DC as the only two cities where home prices are increasing on a year-over-year basis, +1.7% and +4.1%, respectively.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had increased in January, improved further in February. The Index now stands at 70.4 (1985=100), up from 64.8 in January. The Present Situation Index improved to 33.4 from 31.1. The Expectations Index increased to 95.1 from 87.3 last month.

For the first time in years, the apartment rental market is beginning to experience signs of recovery as the U.S. economy slowly begins to strengthen. Reuters reported the rental vacancy rate fell to 9.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010 from 10.3 percent in the July-September period—the lowest since the second quarter of 2007. Witten Advisors predicts rents will increase 4.5 percent in 2011 as operators become aggressive in raising rents with little fear of losing customers to other housing options. In response to this news, Apartments.com conducted a national survey to more than 1,800 of its January website visitors to find out about their 2011 moving plans, including reasons they are moving, when they plan to move and which tools they value most during their apartment search.

The sales price of newly constructed residential buildings in 70 large and medium-sized cities were reported that 3 cities of that increased more than 2.0 percent, while 3 cities decreased comparing with the previous month.

In survey results released today, research by Advisors Trusted Advisor describes how advisors and wealth managers are most successfully winning new business and what marketing tactics are most used to build awareness.

In December 2010, the amount outstanding of shares/units issued by euro area investment funds other than money market funds was EUR 223 billion higher than one quarter earlier in September 2010. This increase was due mainly to increases in share/unit prices.

In December 2010 the seasonally adjusted current account of the euro area recorded a deficit of EUR 13.3 billion. In the financial account, combined direct and portfolio investment recorded net inflows of EUR 57 billion (non-seasonally adjusted). In 2010 as a whole, the seasonally adjusted deficit for the euro area current account amounted to EUR 56.4 billion (around 0.6% of GDP), compared with a deficit of EUR 51.4 billion in 2009. Combined direct and portfolio investment recorded net inflows of EUR 111 billion in 2010, compared with net inflows of EUR 190 billion in 2009, mainly as a result of lower net purchases of euro area debt securities by non‑resident investors.

Consumers in the United States are more likely to buy a smartphone in 2011 than PCs, mobile phones, e-readers, media tablets and gaming products, according to a recent survey by Gartner, Inc. U.S. smartphone sales are expected to grow from 67 million units in 2010 to 95 million units in 2011. By comparison, mobile PC shipments are forecast to total 50.9 million in the United States. in 2011, up from 45.6 million from 2010.

It's tough out there: a quarter of Brits believe their jobs are less secure than a month ago. Over half expect their financial household situation to worsen in the next 12 months and the majority believe prices will rise in the next year.