comScore, Inc.released its monthly analysis of U.S. consumer activity at the top online properties for September 2008 based on data from the comScore Media Metrix service. The tumultuous financial markets and the upcoming presidential elections were the main drivers of Internet traffic for the month.
As the economy weakened during the third quarter, venture capitalists continued to rein in investments in U.S.-based companies, according to the Quarterly U.S. Venture Capital Report from Dow Jones VentureSource. The third quarter of 2008 saw $7.37 billion in venture capital invested into 583 deals, 7% less than the $7.94 billion put into 673 deals during the same period last year and the second consecutive quarter of year-over-year declines.
Competitive clusters are powerful engines of economic development and drivers for innovation in the European Union. They provide a fertile business environment for companies, especially Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), to collaborate with research institutions, suppliers, customers and competitors located in the same geographical area.
Median weekly earnings of the nation's 107.2 million full-time wage and salary workers were $720 in the third quarter of 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported. This was 3.6 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 5.3 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers(CPI-U) over the same period.
Fitch Ratings has been assessing the myriad of events and announcements in recent days from major banks and governments around the world. The systemic crisis that has gripped financial markets and financial institutions globally has led to significant government initiatives aimed at restoring confidence to financial markets and providing the institutions with the necessary tools to help them navigate through markets that have been volatile at best and nearly paralyzed at times in recent weeks.
In March 2008, Orleans County, La., had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment among the largest counties in the U.S., according to preliminary data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.
Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlooks on the Republic of Hungary's Long-term Issuer Default ratings (IDRs) to Negative from Stable. Its ratings are affirmed at foreign currency IDR 'BBB+', Short-term foreign currency IDR 'F2', and Long-term local currency IDR 'A-' (A minus). Its Country Ceiling is affirmed at 'A+'.
