U.S. Employee-Reported Layoffs Highest in Five Years; Three in four say now is a "bad time" to find a quality job.
Byline: Dennis Jacobe, Chief Economist Synopsis: Currently, 30% of working Americans report that their employers have laid off employees over the past six months -- the most in the last five years -- and 75% say this is a "bad time" to find a quality job. ...

Internet Payment Exchange Secures Highest Level Payment Card Industry Data Security Certification.
HEALTH AND BEAUTY CLOSE-UP-12 September 2008-Internet Payment Exchange Secures Highest Level Payment Card Industry Data Security Certification(C)2008 - CloseUpMedia - newsdesk@closeupmedia.com Internet Payment Exchange (IPayX), a provider of electronic billing and payment (EBP) and customer service solutions to healthcare providers, utility companies, municipal governments and other organizations,...

Whites, Blacks, Hispanics All Say U.S. Economy Is Lousy; But with decline in gas prices, all three groups are less pessimistic than last month.
Byline: Dennis Jacobe, Chief Economist Synopsis: Among Americans surveyed during the first half of August, 83% of blacks, 78% of whites, and 75% of Hispanics say current economic conditions are "getting worse," but all are somewhat less pessimistic than they were a month ago. PRINCETON,...

Muddling through; Car pools, discount shopping commonplace in era of coping.
Byline: Lisa Eckelbecker Months into the nation's economic slowdown, a winter of discontent is fast approaching. Just about everything consumers need, especially food and fuel, is costing more. Yet it's tougher to raise money. Joblessness is up. Homes aren't worth as much, and many stock...

West Leads Way to Seventh Month of Job Losses in July; Gallup's Net New Hiring Activity measure shows job market deterioration continuing in the West.
Byline: Dennis Jacobe, Chief Economist Synopsis: Gallup's Net New Hiring Activity measure shows the jobs situation looking best in the South and worst in the Midwest and West, with overall hiring and firing conditions suggesting the economy continued to lose jobs in July. PRINCETON, NJ...

No lender left behind.
Imagine getting together with several friends to place a big wager on the roulette wheel. Everything on a single number. If you lose, as is almost certain, you'll learn a painful lesson about gambling. But what if you get your stake back, whatever number comes up? You'll keep gambling--and...

No Improvement in Consumer Credit Market Perceptions; As housing prices fall, many consumers continue to feel now is not a good time to borrow.
Byline: Dennis Jacobe Synopsis: The Experian/Gallup Personal Credit Index poll shows consumers' perceptions of the credit markets remain about the same as they were last month, but better than they were a year ago -- a situation consistent with today's improved consumer confidence levels. But, will tumbling...

GM Reports Third Quarter Financial Results.
DETROIT, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- -- Unprecedented economic and credit market turmoil dramatically impacts auto industry and GM results -- Market volatility results in $1.5 billion in non-cash charges for commodity and currency hedging -- Company anticipates soft U.S. market for remainder of 2008 and into 2009...

Freddie Mac Releases Third Quarter 2008 Financial Results.
MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Freddie Mac today reported a net loss of $25.3 billion, or $19.44 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, compared to a net loss of $1.2 billion, or $2.07 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended September 30,...

Citi Foundation Awards $500,000 to Enterprise Community Partners Grant to Further Leadership and Innovation in Green, Affordable Housing.
BALTIMORE, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Citi Foundation awarded Enterprise Community Partners a $500,000 grant today in support of its Green Communities (R) initiative, the largest effort in the U.S. to bring the benefits of green building to low-income people. The grant will support the continued growth and expansion of...