Content about U.S.

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Take Care Health Systems, which is owned by Walgreens, and Sanofi U.S. have announced the opening of a full-service medical center and on-site pharmacy at Sanofi’s U.S. headquarters in Bridgewater, N.J.

MANCHESTER, England — I Love... Cosmetics, a U.K.-based company that made waves at this year’s NACDS Marketplace with its collection of mouth-watering “I Love…” products for bath and body, officially has announced its foray into the U.S. market.

LONDON and ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Unilever announced on Wednesday that it has completed the sale of the Alberto VO5 brand in the United States and Puerto Rico and the Rave brand globally to private equity firm Brynwood Partners, following approval by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Terms were not disclosed.

Outside the United States and Puerto Rico, the Alberto VO5 brand will remain in Unilever’s portfolio.

ATLANTA — Increases in vaccination rates for the human papillomavirus are trailing increases in rates for two other vaccines recommended for teens and preteens, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Thursday.

Coverage rates for the other two vaccines — Tdap, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis; and MenACWY, which protects against meningococcal meningitis — are continuing to increase, but vaccination rates for HPV vaccine remain low, the study found.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Census Bureau reported that July sales increased 0.5% to $390.4 billion, a positive sign for consumers and retailers whose outlook on the economy may have floundered after the stock market endured a turbulent week.

Compared with the year-ago period, the Census Bureau disclosed that retail sales jumped 8.5%. Similarly, retail trade sales also rose 0.5% for the month and 8.9% above July 2010.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Friday warned U.S. consumers not to use the emergency birth control medicine labeled as Evital, as it may be a counterfeit version of the “morning after pill” and may not be safe or effective in preventing pregnancy.
 
In addition, no brand labeled Evital has been approved by the FDA for use in the United States.

WASHINGTON — The nation's Hispanic population grew four times faster than the total U.S. population between 2000 and 2010, with Mexicans representing the largest Hispanic group, according to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The recently released 2010 Census brief shows that the Hispanic population increased by 15.2 million between 2000 and 2010 and accounted for more than half of the total U.S. population increase of 27.3 million. Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population grew by 43% — four times the nation's 9.7% growth rate.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Kellogg's announced that seven of its U.S. cookie and cracker bakeries have earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star certification.

The seven Kellogg's facilities represent more than half of the 13 EPA-recognized U.S. cookie and cracker bakeries from multiple companies.

The certification builds on Kellogg's commitment to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by 15% to 20% by 2015.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., and BENTONVILLE, Ark. — U.S. Preventive Medicine's new version of a health management solution for small businesses now is available at Sam's Club.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Carex Health Brands recently introduced a new version of its popular derby designer cane decorated with the U.S. flag that will be shipping to stores in time for Memorial Day.

Carex’s derby designer U.S. flag cane is height-adjustable with a push button and is crafted out of lightweight aluminum for increased functionality, comfort, safety and convenience. The new cane is topped with a black finish handle and is adjustable for either right- or left-handed users.

Many analysts have voiced concern that despite numerous indications of a slow, but healthy, economic recovery in the United States, growth in the number of jobs has lagged, even as it has exceeded economists’ expectations.


But another indicator that the economy is picking up speed is U.S. sales growth at Costco Wholesale, the members-only mass merchandiser based in Issaquah, Wash. For fiscal 2010, sales at the company’s 424 U.S. stores — which the company officially calls warehouses — were $59.6 billion, compared with $56.5 billion in 2009.


WASHINGTON — U.S. retail sales edged up slightly from last month to $389.3 billion, an increase of 0.4%, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Wednesday.

The increase marks the ninth consecutive month sales have risen, which could indicate that an economic recovery is under way; however, many fear that looming gas and food prices could impact future months.