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The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) increased in January for the fourth consecutive month. The index now stands at 100.5, up from December’s revised figure of 100.3. The index is up 7 percent from a year ago.

The largest and most comprehensive nationally-representative study of single men and women ever done dispels long-held beliefs about singles in America. Although there are 105 million singles in the United States, representing one-third of the US population, these women and men have gone largely unstudied - even as their attitudes and behaviors are shaping America's cultural norms and challenging traditional foundations. Based on this groundbreaking study, a new picture of single Americans emerges that is radically different than it was 50 years ago when the median age of first marriage for women was 20 and only 10% of women ages 25-29 were not married. The single today is defying gender and age stereotypes, adopting new dating habits, and changing the very definition of relationships.

Consumers who use the Internet to shop for a new vehicle spend an average of 18-19 hours researching new and used vehicle purchases, according to the recent Automotive Buyer Influence Study conducted by Polk and AutoTrader.com. In both segments (new and used purchasers), approximately 60 percent of shopping time was spent online.

Small business managers are expecting hiring activity within their organizations to improve in 2011, but say it will likely be hindered by continued challenges related to accessing credit, government regulations and health insurance costs. This is according to a new nationwide survey from CareerBuilder conducted between November 15 and December 2, 2010, among more than 1,350 small businesses (organizations with 500 employees or less).

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in January for the 14th consecutive month, say the nation’s purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.

A new nationwide survey issued today by Citibank revealed that, as 2011 begins, American consumers have a slightly more positive outlook on the current condition of the national and local economies, and substantially more optimism about economic trends and their own personal financial situations over the next twelve months.

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 2.6 percent annual rate during the fourth quarter of 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. This gain in productivity reflects increases of 4.5 percent in output and 1.8 percent in hours worked. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.) Productivity increased 1.7 percent over the last four quarters. Annual average productivity increased 3.6 percent from 2009 to 2010. Quarterly measures provide information on business cycles whereas annual measures are compared to long-term trends.

Thirty-four percent of Americans have no retirement savings and 27% have no personal savings. Just 18 months ago those numbers were moderately lower, at 30% and 22% respectively.

There is a sense of optimism returning to the American people. They are feeling better about President Obama, the direction of the country and, albeit to a lesser degree, Congress. And, it seems they are also feeling slightly better about the economy. One-third of Americans (33%) give President Obama positive ratings on his handling of the economy while two-thirds (67%) give him negative ratings. In December, three in ten U.S. adults (30%) gave the President positive ratings and 70% gave him negative marks on the economy.

Pundits have coined the term “she-conomy” to describe the economic gains U.S. women have made in recent years, but they still lag in saving for retirement, according to the sixth annual Retirement Survey from Wells Fargo & Company.