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The Broadband Forum announced the latest IPTV and broadband statistics, showing that the North American IPTV market has more than doubled in size in 2008 - with growth of 113 percent despite the global economic downturn.

"Energy Efficiency" was the buzzword of 2008, and rightfully so. With high energy prices and the "green" movement in full swing, it made both economic and social sense to invest in energy saving technologies. Entering 2009, however, the world finds itself in a different economic situation. Energy prices have declined, and the financial crisis leaves companies with little or no capital to spend on investments. In light of these new economic conditions, it is questionable whether the trend toward energy efficiency will continue. However, Frost & Sullivan believes that the demand for energy efficiency in buildings will remain a powerful driver in the short and medium term future.

Worldwide communication in the future will be done through mobile devices. According to TNS Global, 74% of the world’s digital messages were sent through a mobile device in January 2009, a 15% increase over the previous year.

The average price of a hotel room around the world fell by 12% last year, according to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index.

Mobile Coupons are expected to be one of the biggest winners of the current global recession. Juniper Research forecasts that the redemption value of mobile coupons will increase by over 30% by 2010.

A report issued from The Conference Board, commissioned by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, finds that improving productivity is a vital part of any successful economic strategy to strengthen growth and raise living standards.

Latin America's macroeconomic performance will be adversely affected by three simultaneous shocks: the global recession, lower commodity prices and a reduction in private capital inflows, according to Fitch Ratings in its Sovereign Outlook report for Latin America.

Global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) upstream transaction value fell to $104 billion from an annual average of nearly $160 billion in 2005-2007, according to the 2009 Global Upstream M&A Review prepared by IHS Herold Inc., an IHS company, and Harrison Lovegrove & Co., Ltd., a Standard Chartered group company.

Resisting protectionism and reviving stalled trade reforms would help the major emerging economies build on the progress achieved over the past two decades and emerge from the crisis with their trade performance strengthened, says a new OECD report.

Transatlantic Trade and Investment fuel U.S. and European economic prosperity and underwrite the global economy. They create well-paid jobs, bring new technologies and business methods, and provide healthy competition that fosters innovation, productivity gains, lower prices, and greater variety for consumers.