May 2007 Edition
LAPTOPS
Analysts predict that laptops will overtake desktop PCs as the dominant form of computer by 2011. The demand for bulky machines will continue to grow slowly but at a declining rate as portable machines become quicker and more efficient. The report predicts the laptop market will grow by 16 per cent each year until 2011 compared to 3.8 per cent for desktop PCs. In 2006, more than 82 million portable computers and nearly 140 million desktop PCs were shipped around the world. The gradual shift away from fixed machines may reflect the needs of an increasingly mobile workforce.
BEES
Honeybees in the US are vanishing from their hives and experts are scrambling to find a cause before the insects and the crops they pollinate are wiped out. Nationwide, the value of honeybees to US agriculture is more than US$14-billion a year. Officials say that "colony collapse disorder," in which bees are not returning to their hives is being reported in 24 states.
FIGURES
* It is estimated that 10 to 20 per cent of all adults in the world take vitamin supplements.
* The U.S alone uses 500 million tonnes of cement each year. The cement industry is responsible for 7 per cent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions. After water, concrete is the product most consumed by humans on earth.
* Greece, with a population of 11 million, expects to draw more than 15 million tourists this year.
SIZE
Twenty years ago, there were only about 300 yachts measuring 100 feet (30 metres) or more. Today, there are believed to be more than 5,000. Last month, construction began in Italy on "Hull 6154" which is expected to be the world's most expensive privately owned yacht. The vessel, 133 metres long, will have seven decks, two helicopter pads and storage space for a submarine. The crew of 60 will entertain guests in 15 staterooms fitted with the latest entertainment systems, gold and marble bathroom fittings and jacuzzis.
PERFUME
Archaeologists have found the world's oldest perfumes in the south of Cyprus. They are scented with extracts of lavender, bay, rosemary, pine or coriander and kept in translucent alabaster bottles and are more than 4,000 years old. The scientists have found what they believe was an enormous 43,000 sq. ft. perfume-making factory. At least 60 distilling stills, mixing bowls, funnels and perfume bottles were found perfectly preserved at the site which had been blanketed in earth after a violent earthquake around 1850 BC.
POLLS
The majority of Britons believe that life was better before joining the European Union. But the EU has rejected a new poll that finds that lives for 52 per cent of Britons have got worse since the UK joined in 1973. Citing increased economic prosperity and longer life expectancy, officials also dismissed survey results showing dissatisfaction among more than 44 per cent of citizens in Germany, France and Italy, founder members of the EU 50 year ago.
PARKING
Based on 2006 data, it cost just $6 to park all day in an unreserved spot in Memphis and $6.50 in Bakersfield, California. However, the cost in midtown New York is $40 a day, Boston, $31, Honolulu, $30 and Chicago, $25 a day.
NICHE
Functional foods and beverages, products that provide a positive pharmaceutical benefit beyond basic nutrition by virtue of their inclusion of medically beneficial ingredients, are growing into a huge niche market estimated at nearly US$25-billion in 2006 and destined to touch $39-billion by 2011. The largest increase in nutraceutical ingredient demand are expected to be for glucosamine, probiotics, whey protein, omega-3 fatty acids and Co-Q10, all key drivers in the nutraceutical market.
RESPONSE
Sixty-four per cent of Hispanic adults in the U.S. who read direct mail responded to the advertising medium over a 30 day period, versus 46 per cent of the general U.S. population. A study further revealed that 72 per cent of Hispanic adults read direct mail advertisements. With more Hispanics reading direct mail advertising than non-Hispanics, this indicates a need for marketers to continue creating more bilingual marketing pieces. When Hispanics see bilingual pieces, the urge to respond is significantly higher.
ACIDS
Scientists are claiming that the fatty acid content in children's diets can boost their mental abilities. Some overweight children aged between eight and 13 given capsules containing omega-3 and omega-6 were said to have undergone three years' worth of development in just three months. They were also said to have made remarkable improvements in reading and problem solving. The children were also encouraged to cut down on carbonated drinks and do more exercise.
FLIGHTS
Canada and the U.S. have officially unveiled a new deal that will help open up North America's skies. The deal, which is seen as the biggest step in a decade towards free trade in the airline sector, will provide so-called fifth freedom rights, a move that should lead to better prices and more choice for airline passengers on both sides of the border. The key to the deal is that a Canadian airline transporting passengers or cargo to a U.S. city will now be able to pick up more business in that U.S. city, and then fly the people or goods to a third country. The reverse will also hold true for U.S. airlines.
MOLYBDENUM
This rare metal is set to join a growing list of commodities, including gold, silver and more recently, uranium, with a new fund that will give investors direct exposure to the price of the metal. The offering, which will attempt to raise roughly $75 million, will buy and sell molybdenum and invest in companies that explore for, mine and process the silvery white material that is used in furnaces, pipelines and aircraft engine parts. The metal is often found alongside copper and is used to make high-grade stainless steel.
RICHES
Forbes magazine has counted a record 946 billionaires around the world, with a combined net worth of US$3.5 trillion. Seven of the world's ten richest people are citizens of countries other than the U.S. Newcomers to the club include 19 Russians, 14 Indians, 13 Chinese and 10 Spaniards. The billionaire boom reflects the big rise in global wealth thanks to strong equity and property markets and buoyant commodity prices.
STORES
U.S. coffee shop giant Starbucks plans to open at least 40,000 more stores over the medium term, half of them outside the U.S. The company currently has more than 13,000 shops, 9,000 of them in the U.S., with operations in 39 countries employing 130,000 people. The chain is currently expanding at a rate of six stores and 350 new employees a day. The coffee giant is planning to launch its own record label and there is talk of Starbucks putting kiosks in its shops so that customers can shop for music while waiting for their coffee.
FABRIC
Military Special Forces could soon be wearing smart fabrics that monitor how they cope in combat situations. The fabric gathers information on heart beat, skin temperature, posture, activity and breathing rate when against the skin. The fabric could also be used by athletes to hone their performance by measuring how they react during training. It can either record a week's worth of data or transmit data as it is gathered to a nearby laptop.
SEAFOOD
The consumption of seafood in the U.S was 16.2 pounds per capita in 2005, down slightly from the previous year. However, overall consumption has risen 9.5 per cent from 14.8 pounds in 2001. Overall, seafood consumption totalled 4.78 billion pounds (edible weight) for the year. Shrimp continued to lead in types of seafood with canned tuna in second place and salmon in third place.
ADVERTISING
Despite the fact that advertising spending in the U.S. was US$285-billion last year, up from $271-billion in 2005, 81 per cent of American consumers could not name one of the top 50 new products launched in 2006. This was a record high for lack of recognition and up from 57 per cent the previous year. There were a total of 32,624 new products unveiled in 2006.
SERVICES
The food services and drinking place industry edged ahead in Canada in 2005 as operating revenue reached C$38.9 billion, up four per cent from 2004. The majority of revenue in the industry was generated by sales of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 84 per cent followed by sales of alcoholic beverages at 14 per cent. The majority of expenses came from the cost of goods, 37 per cent and labour costs, 32 per cent. Rental and leasing costs were third.
MORTGAGES
Late mortgage payments in the U.S. shot up to a 3 1\2-year high in the last quarter of 2006 and new foreclosures surged to record levels as borrowers with tarnished credit histories had trouble keeping up with monthly payments. A banking association that surveys 43.5 million loans reported that the percentage of payments that were 30 days or more past due jumped to 4.97 per cent.
ZONES
India's plans to emulate China's economic success with huge low-cost economic zones have been put on hold after protests by farmers' groups. The Government had hoped that the zones would form the backbone of a manufacturing industry employing millions of farmers left behind by the country's economic boom. India plans about 600 economic zones to lure foreign investors with tax perks and modern infrastructure .
APPAREL
Customers bought US$9.6 billion worth of apparel online in the U.S. last year. But online purchases of clothing represent a paltry five per cent of overall apparel sales. Customers return 30 per cent of clothes they buy online.
GOLD
Sales of gold for jewellery reached a new high of US$44-billion last year, helping total demand climb to $65-billion. However, the volume of jewellery demand slipped by 16 per cent to 2,267 tonnes. According to the World Gold Council, volatile prices hurt jewellery sales in the first eight months of the year but sales surged later when prices settled under $600 an ounce. Purchases of gold for industrial purposes also set new records in terms of both value and volume.
LIGHTING
Street lights in Britain will be fitted with "dimmer switches" in a bid to cut light pollution. The Highways Agency is to begin tests later this year on lights that will automatically dim when there are fewer cars or trucks on the roads. The new lights could eventually be fitted on all highways. Safety groups are worried they may lead to more accidents.
MEDICINE
Researchers are close to creating an artificial tooth which automatically releases medicine. The device is small enough to fit inside two artificial molars. It could benefit patients with diabetes and high blood pressure.
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