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Cyber Monday, a term coined by the National Retail Federation for the first Monday after Thanksgiving, is likely to be a busy day for Internet use in the office. Thirty-two percent of workers plan to holiday shop online this season, up from 29 percent last year, according to CareerBuilder's annual survey. While employers tend to be more lenient around the holidays, experts caution workers to be aware of their company's electronic communications policies as employers have reported monitoring Internet and email use and instituting stricter policies in regard to social media. The survey included more than 3,100 employers and 4,700 workers nationwide.

A new exclusive survey from Sunbelt Software, a leading provider of Windows security software, reveals that more than half (56 percent) of consumers have security concerns about using credit cards online, but more than 90 percent of the 650+ respondents will still do so this holiday season. In fact, despite security concerns, more than 60 percent of all respondents will be doing more - not less - online shopping this holiday season.

comScore, a leader in measuring the digital world, today reported holiday season retail e-commerce spending for the first 22 days of the November – December 2009 holiday season, as well as its official spending forecast for the season. For the holiday season-to-date, $8.21 billion has been spent online, marking a 2-percent increase versus the corresponding days last year.

The average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 5.00 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.44 discount and origination points.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had declined in October, increased slightly in November. The Index now stands at 49.5 (1985=100), up from 48.7 in October. The Present Situation Index was virtually unchanged at 21.0 versus 21.1 last month. The Expectations Index increased to 68.5 from 67.0 in October.

U.S. households are expected to spend an average of $390 on Christmas gifts this holiday season, down from last year's estimate of $418, The Conference Board reports.

Faced with an uncertain economy, some business owners are re-evaluating their use of technology. The latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, surveyed October 5-9, shows over half of respondents (58 percent) reporting that they have delayed technology purchases due to the economy, including purchases of new computers (60 percent), new hardware (56 percent) and new software (56 percent). However, there is a narrow percentage (thirteen percent) who report accelerating purchases in order to cut costs or build efficiencies.

The weekly average rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace for 30-year fixed mortgages decreased six basis points last week to 4.69 percent, down from 4.75 percent the week prior, according to the Zillow Mortgage Rate Monitor, compiled by leading real estate Web site Zillow.com®. Rates for 15-year fixed mortgages fell two basis points to 4.23 percent from 4.25 percent, and 5-1 adjustable rate mortgages increased one basis point to 3.69 percent, from 3.68 percent the week prior.

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed or higher in October. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia recorded over-the-month unemployment rate increases, 13 states registered rate decreases, and 8 states had no rate change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Over the year, jobless rates increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The national unemployment rate rose to 10.2 percent in October, up 0.4 percentage point from September and 3.6 points from October 2008.

Yankee Group surveys indicate that 63 percent of U.S. shoppers intend to spend less this holiday season, but a new trend offers retailers the chance to capture the attention of thrifty shoppers: mobile retailing.