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Despite one of the sharpest economic contractions in decades, the world's largest retailers were able to increase sales by 5.5% in fiscal year 2008 (encompasses fiscal years ended through June 2009), with total retail sales equaling around $3.8 trillion. However, a new report, 2010 Global Powers of Retailing, from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, in conjunction with STORES Media, shows that the global recession affected retailers' bottom line. Profitability at the largest 250 retailers in the world fell from 3.7 percent in fiscal 2007 to 2.4 percent in 2008.

The G8 and regional economies have averted a global economic depression. The IMF in its 4Q-2009 assessment estimated that the global economy shrank 1.1% in 2009 but will grow 3.1% in 2010. According to ABI Research vice president for forecasting Jake Saunders, “2010’s expected growth has been created through very necessary but very substantial government debt. Underlying organic demand — demand from consumers — remains weak while B2B demand, though more robust, has been limited by restrictions on credit by cautious banks.”

In response to consumer demand, senior automotive executives are expected to increase their investment in new technologies to produce more environmentally-friendly, fuel-efficient vehicles, according to the 11th annual global automotive survey conducted by KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm.

Consumer prices in the OECD area rose by 1.3% in the year to November 2009, compared with a rise of 0.2% in October 2009. Month-on-month, prices increased by 0.1% in November, unchanged from October 2009.

A new consumer poll, conducted by the Wi-Fi Alliance on the eve of the Consumer Electronics Show, demonstrates that Wi-Fi has become a sought after feature in consumer electronics. The poll results show strong interest in a wide variety of Wi-Fi-enabled entertainment applications, as well as a desire for a convenient, easy method to make those connections. With Wi-Fi CERTIFIED(TM) Wi-Fi Direct technology becoming available later this year, Wi-Fi is poised to become an even more important purchase requirement for consumer electronics devices in 2010.

Reinsurance rates across most lines of property catastrophe business declined at the January 1, 2010 renewal, according to a briefing released by Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC. The report, Rates Retreat as Capital Rebounds: Global Reinsurance Renewals at January 1, 2010 shows Guy Carpenter’s World Catastrophe Rate on Line (ROL) Index declining by six percent at the January 1, 2010 renewal, as the reinsurance market recovered and swiftly recapitalized in the wake of the global financial crisis and large reduction in catastrophe losses.

McAfee Inc. unveiled its 2010 Threat Predictions report. McAfee Labs believes cybercriminals will target social networking sites and third-party applications, use more complex Trojans and botnets to build and execute attacks, and take advantage of HTML 5 to create emerging threats. McAfee Labs also predicts 2010 will be a good year for law enforcement’s fight against cybercrime.

Global airline capacity for December 2009 shows positive growth compared to December 2008, reports OAG, the world's leading aviation data business with its monthly report on trends in the supply of airline flights and seats. There are 294.8 million seats available this month, a rise of 4% over December 2008 levels. Global frequencies are up 1% compared to December 2008, with a total of 2.4 million flights scheduled for December 2009, despite an average North American frequency decline of 2%. Worldwide, frequencies and capacity in the low cost sector are both up by 10% compared to a year ago, accounting for 444,539 flights (18%) and 65.6 million seats (22%).

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index™ (LEI) for Australia declined 0.3 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index™ (CEI) increased 0.1 percent in October.

Despite reports of growing protectionist and nationalistic sentiment prompted by the global recession, world business leaders believe that migration continues to be good for business and the economy, according to a survey conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit on behalf of Western Union. More than three in four corporate leaders, or 76 percent, say that foreign workers have a positive impact on the economy and nearly as many (71 percent) agree that foreign workers provide competitive advantages. Further, more than half, or 57 percent, say that the recession has not prompted changes to the hiring practices of foreign workers. Survey respondents included 501 global business leaders, of which 43 percent were C-level executives.