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While leading economists expect the economy and job market to steadily improve through 2011, many employers and their employees are struggling to stay afloat under the weight of increasingly heavier workloads and high stress loads.

From January to November, the industrial profits of enterprises above designated size achieved 3882.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 49.4%.

A macroeconomic indicator, SpendingPulse reports on national retail and services sales and is based on aggregate sales activity in the MasterCard payments network, coupled with survey-based estimates for all other payment forms, including cash and check. MasterCard SpendingPulse does not represent MasterCard financial performance. SpendingPulse is provided by MasterCard Advisors, the professional services arm of MasterCard Worldwide.

Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and a slow recovery, deal activity increased slightly, according to Ernst & Young's Transaction Advisory Services (TAS). Global merger-and-acquisition (M&A) deal volume was up 3% in 2010 so far, hitting $1.9 trillion in value but significantly below the all-time yearly high of $4.7 trillion recorded in 2007.

Holiday shopping is over and the New Year's Eve plans are made. It's also the time of year when people look back and look forward and, this year many are probably thinking more of the economic year that was and the one that will be. President Obama is also probably thinking ahead to the economic future and his handling of the economy. At the end of his second year in office, just three in ten Americans (30%) give him positive ratings on the job he is doing on the economy while seven in ten (70%) give him negative ratings.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the Euro Area increased 0.7 percent in November to 114.3 (2004 = 100), following a 0.3 percent increase in October and no change in September.

Employers took 1,586 mass layoff actions in November involving 152,816 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 persons from a single employer. The number of mass layoff events in November decreased by 65 from the prior month, while the number of associated initial claims increased by 4,757. In November, 354 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector, seasonally adjusted, resulting in 39,465 initial claims. Over the month, the number of manufacturing events decreased slightly, while associated initial claims increased by 2,027.

The economy remains the number one priority on the global stage. More than half of participants in a new global survey by Survey Sampling International (SSI) cite "improving the economy" as the most important issue to tackle in 2011. Members of SSI's online research panels in 8 countries chose the economy as their top concern from a list of 8 issues, including reforming healthcare, preserving the environment, preventing terrorism, reforming education, monitoring the food industry, improving relations with other countries and preparing for natural disasters. Respondents from Japan (71%) and the US (70%) are most focused on today's economic challenges.

When it comes to their jobs, one-quarter of Americans are most thankful for job stability this holiday season, according to data released in a survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Heald College. The survey asked employed Americans to identify what they were most grateful for in their work life – other than pay.

In October 2010, the amount outstanding of shares/units issued by euro area investment funds other than money market funds was EUR 62 billion higher than in September 2010. This increase was due almost equally to increases in share/unit prices and to net issues of shares/units.