March 2003 Edition
JOBS
Recent Canadian census data shows that truck-driving is the country's most common occupation, employing more than 263,000 people at last count. That is almost 30 per cent more than the total in 1991, representing 4.4 per cent of the growth in the national job market. 97 per cent of those drivers are men.
WATER
Scientists have discovered a massive underground lake in China's arid northwest, giving hope for the reduction of poverty in one of the country's most remote and sparsely populated regions. The lake beneath the Taklamakan desert in the Xinjiang region has a capacity about the same as the 631-square kilometre reservoir being filled behind China's massive Three Gorges Dam. A study found that about 911 million cubic metres of underground water could be used annually.
CENSUS
The recent U.S. census tells us that more American homes have dogs than cats. The average cell phone call in 2001 lasted just under three minutes and the average monthly phone bill was $47.37. 44 per cent of Americans did volunteer work in 2000, averaging around 15 hours per month. U.S residents spent over $38-billion on lottery tickets in 2001.
TAXES
Several major retailers in the U.S. have voluntarily expanded the number of states in which they will collect sales tax from web customers. The change represents another step in a movement by bricks-and-mortar retailers to persuade states and Congress to impose sales tax on companies that operate only on-line.
CASH
France is leaping toward a cashless society with a nation-wide launch this year of computerized "smart cards," a concept that has so far failed to entice many American, British and German consumers. The chief idea behind this new breed of microchip-embedded plastic is to dispense with pocket change and speed smaller transactions. Introduced two years ago, some 850,000 French consumers now regularly use these cards at 80,000 grocery shops, parking lots and vending machines. Each card has a $107 storage limit.
MEAT
According to the U.S. Agriculture Department, about 60 per cent of the largest U.S. meat plants fail to meet federal food safety regulations for preventing the E coli bacteria in their products. This strain of bacteria causes an estimated 73,000 infections and 61 deaths in the U.S. each year. It is destroyed when meat is cooked to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit, The White House has proposed a US$ 900-million budget for food safety.
THERMAL RECONDITIONING
This is a hair-styling process that uses chemical thioglycolates and a flat iron heated to 180 C to banish curls for up to six months. The treatment, which is also known as Japanese straightening or thermal retexturing, takes up from six to eight hours and costs up to C$1500.
ONLINE
Farmers in Britain are turning to the internet in increasing numbers to challenge the domination of supermarkets. More than C$750-million worth of farm products were sold online last year. Farm trade on the 'net was unheard of five years ago. Last year, one in 10 of Britain's 300,000 farms marketed produce on the internet. The average value of internet sales per farm topped C$31,000. Besides traditional farm products and supplies, farmers also promoted holiday cottages and bed and breakfast accommodation.
SPACE
Almost half the Earth is still wilderness according to a study by Conservation International. It found that 37 wilderness areas make up 46 per cent of the planet's surface, but contain just 2.4 per cent of the world's population. A "wilderness" is defined as being an area with 70 per cent or more of its original vegetation covering at least 10,000 square kilometres and containing fewer that five people per square kilometre.
AGING
A child-like robot that combines the roles of nurse and companion and security guard is to go on the market to help the growing ranks of elderly Japanese with no one to look after them. The Wakamaru robot can patrol a house 24 hours a day, alerting family, hospitals and security firms if it perceives a problem. Cameras implanted in the "eyebrows" of the robot allows it to "see" as it trundles around an apartment. The robots costs around C$14,000 and speak with either a male or female voice and can be set to remind people when to take medicine, eat and sleep.
LOST
U.S. airports are overrun with the usual forgotten possessions: coats, sweaters and scarves. Now, with increased security, a new category is showing up; men's belts. Forgetful passengers are stripping off their belts for screening, then walking away without them.
BLIMPS
A Canadian firm has developed a spherical airship that could revolutionize the telecommunications industry, as well as the practice of military surveillance. It can act as a high-altitude antenna for wireless networks and an intelligence-gathering platform. These ships outperform traditional cigar-shaped blimps, which barely reach a 5,000 foot altitude. It is expected they will reach 75,000 feet by the end of this year, well above airplane altitudes. They can manoeuvre like a helicopter, have the ability to ascend and descend and can turn 360 degrees on their axis.
SHORTAGES
As Canada's greying workforce creeps towards retirement age, the country could face worker shortages in the next decade, especially in health care, education and construction. By 2011, almost one-fifth of baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, will be at least 61 years of age and pushing ever closer to retirement age. Immigrants have made major strides in the Canadian labour force and will play an even greater role in the years ahead.
OVERTIME
A Bush administration overhaul of decades-old labour legislation could force many Americans to work longer hours without overtime pay. The administration argues that the pillars of U.S. labour law, which established the 40-hour work week, a minimum wage and overtime pay, are antiquated. According to the Labour Department, the changes would make more lower-income workers eligible for overtime. Unions fear the changes will severely restrict who is legally required to be paid for overtime.
ADVERTISING
Total advertising spending in the U.S. grew by 4 per cent in 2002 but advertising in newspapers fell for the first time since the early 1990s. The overall decrease of 0.6 per cent in 2002 versus 2001 is attributable to a severe fall-off in recruitment advertising. Advertising in radio was up 8.2 per cent; cable-TV was up by 5.9 per cent and broadcast TV grew by 5.2 per cent.
VEGETARIANS
One in four American teens now considers vegetarianism "cool," according to a new study from Teenage Research Unlimited. The study indicates a rise in vegetarianism, particularly among teenage girls. To try and counter the trend, beef marketers are gearing up for promotions to renew beef's image with teens. Other groups are concerned about the nutritional shortfalls of vegetarianism.
CHEAP
By its nature, the extent of counterfeiting is hard to measure precisely, but a study by the International Chamber of Commerce reckoned that it grew from perhaps 3 per cent of world trade in 1990 to 5 per cent in 1995. It may now be between 7 and 9 per cent, or over US$450 billion a year.
TRENDS
London marketing whiz kids have come up with a new advertising medium: the human forehead. A company is about to start renting space on the foreheads of university students. They will have logos semi-permanently tattooed on their foreheads and will be paid about US$7.00 an hour for three hours, the amount of time they are reckoned to be "out and about" and thereby promoting the product.
BEAUTY
Scientists say that ingredients in beauty products may be causing cancer. Canadians buy $4 billion worth of beauty products annually, including shampoos and moisturisers. European countries have banned some 400 chemicals suspected of causing cancer, but most are still permitted in Canada. As well, Europe and the U.S. require cosmetic companies to list their ingredients but Health Canada does not.
BLIND
Feed additives that heighten the colour of salmon, trout and egg yolks can damage the retina and raise the risk of long-term blindness. The European Union has cut the maximum allowable levels of canthaxanthin, a pigment that is widely fed to farmed salmon, trout, and laying hens after studies found that it leads to blurred vision from crystalline deposits in the retina.
OPPORTUNITIES
Disillusioned British dairy farmers are being offered a fresh start in the U.S. Farmers who have been forced to sell their milk at a loss are being urged to move to the cowboy state of South Dakota which is in desperate need of experienced hands to take on 65,000 cattle. The South Dakota International Business Institute is to tour some of the areas hardest hit by the foot and mouth crisis to entice farmers to cut their losses and emigrate.
COCONUTS
The DaimlerChrysler company has embarked on a project in Brazil to use coconut fibre for vehicle components. Simple technical processes are used to extract fibre from coconut shell, turn it into rope and send it to a factory to be used in seats, sun visors, and upholstery. The material is environmentally friendly, can be recycled and slightly cheaper than synthetic materials.
VEHICLES
The Dodge Caravan was the top-selling vehicle in Canada for the third year in a row in 2002. More than 83,500 were sold. The top selling car, also for the third year running, was the Honda Civic with 69,000 sold.
OIL
Late last year, Russia overtook Saudi Arabia as the world's largest oil producer. In the last quarter, Russia pumped an average of 7.97m barrels a day, against 7.86m barrels from Saudi Arabia. Analysts believe that Russia could increase its production by two or three million more barrels a day. Russia was helped by Opec cutting back its output.
PORTS
Canadian ports handled 393.0 million metric tonnes of cargo in 2001; down 2.4 per cent from 402.8 million tonnes in 2000. International activity showed a strong 6.0 per cent growth in cargoes arriving from foreign origins and totalled 112.3 million tonnes. Cargo departing to foreign destinations dropped 7.2 per cent to 174.3 million tonnes in 2001. Vancouver, Saint John and Port Hawkesbury were the top three ports in total tonnage handled in 2001.
PIGS
Farmers throughout the British Isles have 90 days to put a toy in every pigsty or face up to three months in jail. The new ruling, from the European Union, is designed to keep pigs happy and prevent them chewing each other. Official instructions are to give pigs "environmental enrichment" by providing "manipulable material," which is being interpreted as balls of different colours.
Thank you for reading the A & A Economic News Digest. For more information visit our website www.aacb.com or contact A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd. at strehler@aacb.com.
Past issues of the A&A Economic News Digest can be found at http://www.aacb.com/publications/ed/index.asp
Recent Canadian census data shows that truck-driving is the country's most common occupation, employing more than 263,000 people at last count. That is almost 30 per cent more than the total in 1991, representing 4.4 per cent of the growth in the national job market. 97 per cent of those drivers are men.
WATER
Scientists have discovered a massive underground lake in China's arid northwest, giving hope for the reduction of poverty in one of the country's most remote and sparsely populated regions. The lake beneath the Taklamakan desert in the Xinjiang region has a capacity about the same as the 631-square kilometre reservoir being filled behind China's massive Three Gorges Dam. A study found that about 911 million cubic metres of underground water could be used annually.
CENSUS
The recent U.S. census tells us that more American homes have dogs than cats. The average cell phone call in 2001 lasted just under three minutes and the average monthly phone bill was $47.37. 44 per cent of Americans did volunteer work in 2000, averaging around 15 hours per month. U.S residents spent over $38-billion on lottery tickets in 2001.
TAXES
Several major retailers in the U.S. have voluntarily expanded the number of states in which they will collect sales tax from web customers. The change represents another step in a movement by bricks-and-mortar retailers to persuade states and Congress to impose sales tax on companies that operate only on-line.
CASH
France is leaping toward a cashless society with a nation-wide launch this year of computerized "smart cards," a concept that has so far failed to entice many American, British and German consumers. The chief idea behind this new breed of microchip-embedded plastic is to dispense with pocket change and speed smaller transactions. Introduced two years ago, some 850,000 French consumers now regularly use these cards at 80,000 grocery shops, parking lots and vending machines. Each card has a $107 storage limit.
MEAT
According to the U.S. Agriculture Department, about 60 per cent of the largest U.S. meat plants fail to meet federal food safety regulations for preventing the E coli bacteria in their products. This strain of bacteria causes an estimated 73,000 infections and 61 deaths in the U.S. each year. It is destroyed when meat is cooked to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit, The White House has proposed a US$ 900-million budget for food safety.
THERMAL RECONDITIONING
This is a hair-styling process that uses chemical thioglycolates and a flat iron heated to 180 C to banish curls for up to six months. The treatment, which is also known as Japanese straightening or thermal retexturing, takes up from six to eight hours and costs up to C$1500.
ONLINE
Farmers in Britain are turning to the internet in increasing numbers to challenge the domination of supermarkets. More than C$750-million worth of farm products were sold online last year. Farm trade on the 'net was unheard of five years ago. Last year, one in 10 of Britain's 300,000 farms marketed produce on the internet. The average value of internet sales per farm topped C$31,000. Besides traditional farm products and supplies, farmers also promoted holiday cottages and bed and breakfast accommodation.
SPACE
Almost half the Earth is still wilderness according to a study by Conservation International. It found that 37 wilderness areas make up 46 per cent of the planet's surface, but contain just 2.4 per cent of the world's population. A "wilderness" is defined as being an area with 70 per cent or more of its original vegetation covering at least 10,000 square kilometres and containing fewer that five people per square kilometre.
AGING
A child-like robot that combines the roles of nurse and companion and security guard is to go on the market to help the growing ranks of elderly Japanese with no one to look after them. The Wakamaru robot can patrol a house 24 hours a day, alerting family, hospitals and security firms if it perceives a problem. Cameras implanted in the "eyebrows" of the robot allows it to "see" as it trundles around an apartment. The robots costs around C$14,000 and speak with either a male or female voice and can be set to remind people when to take medicine, eat and sleep.
LOST
U.S. airports are overrun with the usual forgotten possessions: coats, sweaters and scarves. Now, with increased security, a new category is showing up; men's belts. Forgetful passengers are stripping off their belts for screening, then walking away without them.
BLIMPS
A Canadian firm has developed a spherical airship that could revolutionize the telecommunications industry, as well as the practice of military surveillance. It can act as a high-altitude antenna for wireless networks and an intelligence-gathering platform. These ships outperform traditional cigar-shaped blimps, which barely reach a 5,000 foot altitude. It is expected they will reach 75,000 feet by the end of this year, well above airplane altitudes. They can manoeuvre like a helicopter, have the ability to ascend and descend and can turn 360 degrees on their axis.
SHORTAGES
As Canada's greying workforce creeps towards retirement age, the country could face worker shortages in the next decade, especially in health care, education and construction. By 2011, almost one-fifth of baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, will be at least 61 years of age and pushing ever closer to retirement age. Immigrants have made major strides in the Canadian labour force and will play an even greater role in the years ahead.
OVERTIME
A Bush administration overhaul of decades-old labour legislation could force many Americans to work longer hours without overtime pay. The administration argues that the pillars of U.S. labour law, which established the 40-hour work week, a minimum wage and overtime pay, are antiquated. According to the Labour Department, the changes would make more lower-income workers eligible for overtime. Unions fear the changes will severely restrict who is legally required to be paid for overtime.
ADVERTISING
Total advertising spending in the U.S. grew by 4 per cent in 2002 but advertising in newspapers fell for the first time since the early 1990s. The overall decrease of 0.6 per cent in 2002 versus 2001 is attributable to a severe fall-off in recruitment advertising. Advertising in radio was up 8.2 per cent; cable-TV was up by 5.9 per cent and broadcast TV grew by 5.2 per cent.
VEGETARIANS
One in four American teens now considers vegetarianism "cool," according to a new study from Teenage Research Unlimited. The study indicates a rise in vegetarianism, particularly among teenage girls. To try and counter the trend, beef marketers are gearing up for promotions to renew beef's image with teens. Other groups are concerned about the nutritional shortfalls of vegetarianism.
CHEAP
By its nature, the extent of counterfeiting is hard to measure precisely, but a study by the International Chamber of Commerce reckoned that it grew from perhaps 3 per cent of world trade in 1990 to 5 per cent in 1995. It may now be between 7 and 9 per cent, or over US$450 billion a year.
TRENDS
London marketing whiz kids have come up with a new advertising medium: the human forehead. A company is about to start renting space on the foreheads of university students. They will have logos semi-permanently tattooed on their foreheads and will be paid about US$7.00 an hour for three hours, the amount of time they are reckoned to be "out and about" and thereby promoting the product.
BEAUTY
Scientists say that ingredients in beauty products may be causing cancer. Canadians buy $4 billion worth of beauty products annually, including shampoos and moisturisers. European countries have banned some 400 chemicals suspected of causing cancer, but most are still permitted in Canada. As well, Europe and the U.S. require cosmetic companies to list their ingredients but Health Canada does not.
BLIND
Feed additives that heighten the colour of salmon, trout and egg yolks can damage the retina and raise the risk of long-term blindness. The European Union has cut the maximum allowable levels of canthaxanthin, a pigment that is widely fed to farmed salmon, trout, and laying hens after studies found that it leads to blurred vision from crystalline deposits in the retina.
OPPORTUNITIES
Disillusioned British dairy farmers are being offered a fresh start in the U.S. Farmers who have been forced to sell their milk at a loss are being urged to move to the cowboy state of South Dakota which is in desperate need of experienced hands to take on 65,000 cattle. The South Dakota International Business Institute is to tour some of the areas hardest hit by the foot and mouth crisis to entice farmers to cut their losses and emigrate.
COCONUTS
The DaimlerChrysler company has embarked on a project in Brazil to use coconut fibre for vehicle components. Simple technical processes are used to extract fibre from coconut shell, turn it into rope and send it to a factory to be used in seats, sun visors, and upholstery. The material is environmentally friendly, can be recycled and slightly cheaper than synthetic materials.
VEHICLES
The Dodge Caravan was the top-selling vehicle in Canada for the third year in a row in 2002. More than 83,500 were sold. The top selling car, also for the third year running, was the Honda Civic with 69,000 sold.
OIL
Late last year, Russia overtook Saudi Arabia as the world's largest oil producer. In the last quarter, Russia pumped an average of 7.97m barrels a day, against 7.86m barrels from Saudi Arabia. Analysts believe that Russia could increase its production by two or three million more barrels a day. Russia was helped by Opec cutting back its output.
PORTS
Canadian ports handled 393.0 million metric tonnes of cargo in 2001; down 2.4 per cent from 402.8 million tonnes in 2000. International activity showed a strong 6.0 per cent growth in cargoes arriving from foreign origins and totalled 112.3 million tonnes. Cargo departing to foreign destinations dropped 7.2 per cent to 174.3 million tonnes in 2001. Vancouver, Saint John and Port Hawkesbury were the top three ports in total tonnage handled in 2001.
PIGS
Farmers throughout the British Isles have 90 days to put a toy in every pigsty or face up to three months in jail. The new ruling, from the European Union, is designed to keep pigs happy and prevent them chewing each other. Official instructions are to give pigs "environmental enrichment" by providing "manipulable material," which is being interpreted as balls of different colours.
Thank you for reading the A & A Economic News Digest. For more information visit our website www.aacb.com or contact A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd. at strehler@aacb.com.
Past issues of the A&A Economic News Digest can be found at http://www.aacb.com/publications/ed/index.asp
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