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The nation of shopkeepers is turning into a nation of Web shoppers.

Kevin Regan, a retail expert at FTI Consulting, the global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance their enterprise value, is available to comment on FTI's 2007 Retail Report, which forecasts a 3.5% increase in 2007 holiday season sales, measured from November 2007 through January 2008, compared with our prior year forecast of 4.8% and actual growth of 5.0% in 2006.

The annual growth rate of the outstanding amount of debt securities issued by euro area residents was 9.1% in September 2007, compared with 9.2% in August. For the outstanding amount of quoted shares issued by euro area residents, the annual growth rate was 1.4% in September 2007, the same as in August.

The past two years have seen a renewed acceleration of productivity growth in the European Union, narrowing the transatlantic productivity gap that emerged in the mid-1990s. However, a large part of the pick-up in productivity reflects the cyclical upswing which the EU has enjoyed in this period. To secure a sustained increase in productivity and compete for economic leadership, the EU must tackle the root causes of slow productivity growth. This is the main message from the EU Economy 2007 Review, which provides an in-depth analysis of productivity developments and policies to push Europe's productivity frontier forward.

U.S. households are expected to spend an average of $471 on gifts during the holiday season, up from last year's estimate of $449, The Conference Board reports.

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation, was left with mixed feelings by the "Single Market for 21st Century Europe" package presented by the European Commission.

A workshop on the implementation of the EU's roaming regulation took place on Tuesday in the European Parliament. Hosted jointly by the Internal Market and Industry Committees, experts and MEPs made a largely positive assessment of the regulation's effects during the first months since its entry into force.

If it is serious about achieving the sort of climate change objectives it has set out for itself at this spring's European Council, the EU must hammer out concrete policy options and binding targets - not least concerning renewable energies - as soon as possible. This was the key message of Monday's hearing on "Innovation and Technology for Climate Protection", attended by experts, MEPs and industry representatives.

Eurogroup chair Jean-Claude Juncker told MEPs on Tuesday of his concerns at rising inflation. He also warned against adopting a stance of "benign neglect" in the face of rapid changes in currency markets. Later, Economics Commissioner Joaquin Almunia also warned of risks ahead on growth and inflation when he spoke to MEPs.

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed in October. Overall, 22 states and the District of Columbia recorded over-the-month unemployment rate increases, 17 states registered decreases, and 11 states had no changes, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported. Over the year, jobless rates were down in 25 states and the District of Columbia and up in 25 states. The national unemployment rate was unchanged in October at 4.7 percent.