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Unemployment in OECD countries will continue to rise well into 2010, with the average unemployment rate approaching 10%, up from 7.8% in April, according to new OECD projections.

Despite affordable home prices and low interest rates, the majority of Americans considering a home purchase still need a little extra incentive. According to a recent survey conducted by Weichert, Realtors, increasing the current tax credit to $15,000 and/or extending it to all buyers would offer the motivation needed to turn more onlookers into buyers.

As the European economy suffers its worst post-war recession, the European Recovery Plan provides needed fiscal support to ailing economies. But rising public debts and the contingent liabilities incurred by governments to support the financial sector, together with the prospected increases in age-related expenditure and slowdown in potential growth raise concerns about public finance sustainability. An exit strategy strengthening fiscal policy frameworks, reforming age-related spending and spelling out the broad consolidation measures envisaged when the recovery has taken hold is required to address these concerns and underpin consumer, business and financial market confidence, the 2009 Report on public finances shows.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index™ (LEI) for Germany increased 0.4 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index™ (CEI) decreased 0.2 percent in April.

Employers took 2,933 mass layoff actions in May that resulted in the separation of 312,880 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported.

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, is pleased to announce the results of its end-user survey, 2009 Corporate Use of Social Networking, an evaluation of how social networking is used in enterprises. The survey presented questions on corporate use of social networking, policies regarding corporate social networking sites, and the utilization of Web 2.0 tools. The survey includes responses from 1,439 participants.

A new study finds that 86 percent of consumers believe that profitable businesses can address social issues. The poll, conducted May 18-28, 2009, among a sample of 511 consumers and 320 marketing professionals nationwide, highlights the current state of key consumer perceptions in the area of corporate social responsibility.

Searches for international property on Primelocation.com show that the British are still interested in buying abroad despite the economic slowdown.

Chief financial officers' confidence in the U.S. economy saw signs of improvement for the first time in over two years, but revealed declined optimism toward their own companies, according to the most recent survey of CFOs conducted by Financial Executives International (FEI) and Baruch College's Zicklin School of Business. While CFOs are taking a cautious approach in regard to capital spending and hiring, they see light at the end of the tunnel, forecasting an end to the current recession by 2011.

While 70 percent of Americans know people who are or have been victims of domestic violence, nearly the same percentage of Americans fail to see a connection between domestic violence and "economic abuse," according to a new national poll released by The Allstate Foundation.