Content about economist

May 3, 2013
Retail industry showed significant job growth in April; unemployment falls by 0.1%

The retail industry added nearly 30,000 jobs last month amid a general uptick in hiring that brought unemployment down to 7.5%, according to the Department of Labor.

WASHINGTON — The retail industry added nearly 30,000 jobs last month amid a general uptick in hiring that brought unemployment down to 7.5%, according to the Department of Labor.

The department's monthly jobs report showed the economy added 165,000 jobs, including 29,000 in the retail industry, which accounts for the largest number of private sector jobs. In addition, the March jobs report, which initially showed that the economy added only 88,000 jobs, was revised upward to 138,000, while the February report was revised upward to 332,000.

April 4, 2013
The Economist: Expect major growth, competition for retail clinics, urgent care and telehealth

Retail-based health clinics, urgent care clinics, telehealth and traditional physicians may be increasingly competing to serve the healthcare needs of Americans but the real winner is the patient, suggests a recent article in The Economist.

NEW YORK — Retail-based health clinics, urgent care clinics, telehealth and traditional physicians may be increasingly competing to serve the healthcare needs of Americans but the real winner is the patient, suggests a recent article in The Economist.

September 26, 2012
Holiday sales to grow as much as 4%

Deloitte is forecasting holiday sales will increase between 3.5% and 4% as the economy's health and the presidential election take center stage among consumers this fall.

NEW YORK — Deloitte is forecasting holiday sales will increase between 3.5% and 4% as the economy's health and the presidential election take center stage among consumers this fall.

Despite some distractions this year, retailers should expect a modest increase in 2012 holiday sales, according to Deloitte’s annual holiday forecast release Tuesday morning.

September 21, 2012
Walmart/Humana: 21st century retailing grounded in 18th century economics

"It is not from the benevolence of the patient, the pharmacist or the payer that we expect our better health, but from their regard to their own self interest." While the somewhat-modified quote is ascribable to Adam Smith, an 18th-century economist credited with the invisible hand theory, the principle holds true.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — "It is not from the benevolence of the patient, the pharmacist or the payer that we expect our better health, but from their regard to their own self interest." While the somewhat-modified quote is ascribable to Adam Smith, an 18th-century economist credited with the invisible hand theory, the principle holds true: Solutions developed as a part of commerce are both more efficient and more sustainable because they benefit all involved.

June 29, 2012
Consumer confidence slides for June

Consumer sentiment declined more than six points for the month of June, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's final index.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Consumer sentiment declined more than six points for the month of June, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's final index.

June 7, 2012
Report: Convenience, cost major factors in driving patients toward mHealth solutions

More patients are actively looking for and expecting to find mobile health solutions, according to the global Economist Intelligence Unit report, which was commissioned by PricewaterhouseCoopers and released Thursday.

NEW YORK — More patients are actively looking for and expecting to find mobile health solutions, according to the global Economist Intelligence Unit report, which was commissioned by PricewaterhouseCoopers and released Thursday.

Roughly one-half of patients surveyed for this report predict that mHealth will improve the convenience, cost and quality of their health care in the next three years. Meanwhile, 6-in-10 doctors and payers believe that its widespread adoption in their countries is inevitable in the near future.

November 9, 2011
Winning with 'Ideas'

A few years back, The Economist stated that 70 percent of the value of a new car lies in intangibles. It is a great reminder that companies — and brands — are made up of impressions, insights and even ideas.

A few years back, The Economist stated that 70 percent of the value of a new car lies in intangibles. It is a great reminder that companies — and brands — are made up of impressions, insights and even ideas.

September 26, 2011
Deloitte forecasts 2.5% to 3% increase in holiday sales

Retailers should expect small gains in 2011 holiday sales, according to a Deloitte forecast issued Monday.

NEW YORK — Retailers should expect small gains in 2011 holiday sales, according to a Deloitte forecast issued Monday.

The company’s retail & distribution practice expects total holiday sales to reach between $873 and $877 billion, representing a 2.5 to 3% increase over last season.

September 1, 2011
Kantar: Retail comp sales decline on horizon despite 4.9% August gain

Retail same-store sales held steady with a 4.9% gain in August as retailers reported mostly solid back-to-school results at the same time sales at department stores were hurt by the impact of Hurricane Irene and weaker spending plans by shoppers, Kantar Retail reported on Thursday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Retail same-store sales held steady with a 4.9% gain in August as retailers reported mostly solid back-to-school results at the same time sales at department stores were hurt by the impact of Hurricane Irene and weaker spending plans by shoppers, Kantar Retail reported on Thursday. However, shoppers plan on reducing their spending over the next few months, the company reported.

March 31, 2011
Peter Henry nominated to join Kraft's board

Kraft Foods said its board of directors has nominated Peter Henry as its newest member.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. — Kraft Foods said its board of directors has nominated Peter Henry as its newest member.

Henry, an international economist, is dean of New York University's Stern School of Business.

February 10, 2011
Lilly chief calls on industry, public policy to support innovation

Public policies to support medical innovation will help drug companies address diseases that devastate people’s lives, a drug company executive said at a summit Thursday.

LONDON — Public policies to support medical innovation will help drug companies address diseases that devastate people’s lives, a drug company executive said at a summit Thursday.

Speaking at The Economist magazine’s 2011 Pharma Summit, Eli Lilly chairman, president and CEO John Lechleiter called for a new approach to research in such illnesses as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and cancer. This included changing the way companies conduct research and public policies that promote an environment in which innovation can flourish.