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The pace of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the industrial manufacturing sector experienced sequential increases in both deal volume and value during the fourth quarter of 2009, as well as the sector's first year-over-year increase in the past eight quarters, according to a series of quarterly M&A reports released by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). The chemicals sector experienced an increase in deal volume but a decrease in value in Q4, while the metals sector showed an increase in deal volume and value compared to the previous quarter. Deal volume in the industrial manufacturing segment increased by 182 percent and deal value grew by 313 percent compared to the year ago quarter.

According to a new survey announced by Ruder Finn, one of the world's largest, independent public relations agencies, Americans are spending an average of 2.7 hours on the mobile Internet – connecting socially, managing their personal finances, and even as a means for advocacy.

Insurers whose agents are highly satisfied tend to receive a considerably greater share of business from those agents, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Insurance Agency Satisfaction Study - Personal Lines.

A new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll finds that reducing unemployment and creating new jobs are clearly considered the top immediate priorities for President Obama and Congress, but healthcare reform is still important. Half of U.S. adults say it will be a “bad thing” if there is no major reform of the healthcare system in the next two years.

Please be advised that Gallup and Healthways, Inc. released the Gallup-Healthways Monthly U.S. Well-Being Report for January 2010. After falling steadily since mid-summer of 2009, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being IndexTM (WBI) rose 1.1 percent in January 2010 to close the month at 66.8, tying the highest monthly score recorded in 2009 and representing a 2.2 percentage point increase year-over-year.

This Valentine’s Day, workers have growing concern that openly dating a coworker could jeopardize job security or career advancement, according to the 2010 Office Romance Survey conducted by Monster.com®, the leading global online career and recruitment resource and flagship brand of Monster Worldwide, Inc., on behalf of Spherion Corporation.

Rates for most mortgage products retreated this week, but not the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage, which remained at 5.15 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.49 discount and origination points.

Home values across the country declined again in the fourth quarter of 2009, as the Zillow Home Value Index fell 5 percent year-over-year, and 0.5 percent quarter-over-quarter, to $186,200. That marked the 12th consecutive quarter of year-over-year declines, according to the fourth quarter Zillow Real Estate Market Reports.

comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, released its Q4 2009 U.S. retail e-commerce sales estimates, which showed that online retail spending reached $39 billion, up 3 percent versus year ago. Total retail e-commerce spending reached $129.8 billion for the full year 2009, marginally below the previous year’s total of $130.1 billion.

AutoMD™, the most comprehensive and unbiased free online auto repair resource, released the results of a survey revealing that car owners are putting many more miles on their current vehicles, 50,000 or more, than on their previous vehicle - with the majority of respondents planning to keep their vehicle until it dies. The report also revealed that the economy is influencing many to do their own repairs and pay more attention to maintenance on their current vehicle.