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Food banks across the nation report that the current recession and the continuing rise in unemployment are having a profound effect on their ability to feed millions of Americans living at risk of hunger, according to a new survey released by Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger relief charity.

The economic situation has improved markedly since the second quarter, pointing to a better growth outlook for the second half of the year. But as economic activity at the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009 was worse than initially estimated, GDP is still expected to fall by 4% overall this year in both the EU and the euro area, as forecast in the spring. However, uncertainty remains rife, and while the recovery may surprise on the upside in the very short term, how sustainable it will be remains to be seen. The Commission's forecasts for inflation in 2009 also remain unchanged at 0.9% in the EU and 0.4% in the euro area, with the base effects of past hikes in energy and food prices, which were pushing prices down, fading away and no other significant inflationary pressures in view.

A report from the Economics of Climate Adaptation Working Group indicates that climate risks could cost nations up to 19% of their GDP by 2030, with developing countries most vulnerable. The report concludes, however, that cost effective adaptation measures already exist that can prevent between 40 and 68 percent of the expected economic loss with even higher levels of prevention possible in highly target geographies.

In August, the total value added of the industrial enterprises above designated size was up 12.3 percent year-on-year, or 0.5 percentage points lower than that in August 2008, or 1.5 percentage point higher than that in July 2009; it was the fourth consecutive month which witnessed a acceleration of year-on-year growth.

In July 2009 compared with June 2009, seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 0.3% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.2% in the EU27. In June production decreased by 0.2% and 0.1% respectively.

The number of persons employed in the euro area (EA16) fell by 0.5% (702 000 persons) in the second quarter of 2009 compared with the previous quarter, according to national accounts estimates published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index moved up again in August, reaching its highest point since before the start of the recession. The Index attempts to track consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending.

Women presidents have shown they can adjust to the changing economic climate. Results from the surveyed membership indicate 55% of women presidents and CEOs of multi-million dollar companies have maintained or grown their employee base, according to the annual economic survey by the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO), the premier peer advisory organization for women entrepreneurs. Despite the economic downturn, 82% of these CEOs and presidents are optimistic about their company's performance for 2010.

Advisors Trusted Advisor recently surveyed financial advisors on the state of their business-building efforts. Survey responses provide an in-depth view into what's working and what's not.

As American consumers shift their buying behavior towards more fuel efficient vehicles, turbocharging - already in use by roughly half of new vehicles in Europe - has emerged as the engine technology U.S. consumers "didn't know they wanted."