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comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, released its 2010 U.S. Online Auto Insurance report, based on behavioral data from comScore’s 1 million person U.S. panel and a survey of more than 2,000 U.S. Internet users to understand attitudes and intentions with regard to conducting auto insurance transactions online. The report found that U.S. consumers submitted requests for 38.8 million online quotes in 2009 and purchased a record 2.8 million policies online during the year, each representing an increase of more than 20 percent versus the previous year, as consumers sought ways to save on auto insurance during the recession.

Investments in “green,” or renewable energy-based companies, are becoming an accepted component of advice-driven investor portfolios, a new survey of financial advisors reveals.

Despite challenging economic conditions, companies continue to invest strategically for the future, according to the 2010 US Investment Monitor (USIM) prepared by the Quantitative Economics and Statistics (QUEST) practice of Ernst & Young LLP.

Employers took 1,628 mass layoff actions in March that resulted in the separation of 150,864 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

Now that health care reform has passed, President Obama is moving on to regulating the financial industry, picking a new Supreme Court Justice, education reform and other issues. Though he and the White House probably hoped for a bump in the polls after the health care debate, unfortunately, that is not the case. This month, two in five Americans (41%) give the president positive ratings for the overall job he is doing while 59% give him negative ratings. This is unchanged from March.

U.S. sales of organic products continued to grow during 2009 despite the distressed state of the economy, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) revealed in releasing findings from its 2010 Organic Industry Survey. In fact, organic product sales in 2009 grew by 5.3 percent overall, to reach $26.6 billion. Of that figure, $24.8 billion represented organic food. The remaining $1.8 billion were sales of organic non-foods.

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods rose 0.7 percent in March, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. This advance followed a 0.6-percent decline in February and a 1.4-percent increase in January. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods climbed 0.6 percent in March and the crude goods index rose 3.2 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods advanced 6.0 percent for the 12 months ended March 2010, their largest year-over-year gain since an 8.8-percent rise in September 2008.

A national survey found that most consumers are searching for greener products, but not because they want to protect the environment. Instead they’re trying to save money or their lives.

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25), which reports economic activity for the $518 billion equipment finance sector, showed overall new business volume for March declined nine percent when compared to the same period in 2009. When compared to the prior month, the MLFI-25 reported new business volume increased by 34 percent, from $3.2 billion to $4.3 billion. In fact, March originations represent the strongest showing in that category thus far this year.

Mortgage rates showed little movement this week, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage nosing higher to 5.22 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.42 discount and origination points.