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In a recently published report, Fitch Ratings says the 2009 outlook for the U.S. Finance and Leasing sector remains negative and incorporates negative rating outlooks for both the consumer and the commercial finance segments. Fitch expects companies within the sector will face difficult business conditions and operating performance will weaken further in 2009. The risks of market illiquidity will continue to cast a broad negative shadow until capital market conditions stabilize and companies are able to raise debt and equity capital on a cost effective basis.

As CFOs of American companies reflect on the past year and look toward 2009, they reveal their confidence in the nation's economy and their own businesses is alarmingly low, and also acknowledge the increased responsibility and pressures associated with their role as CFO. As a result, significant cutbacks have been, and will continue to be, necessary across the board, according to the most recent survey of CFOs conducted by Financial Executives International (FEI) and Baruch College's Zicklin School of Business.

Despite the economic recession, consumers are likely to hold steady and maintain natural and organic grocery purchasing in 2009. That's according to a recent MamboTrack(TM) study by Mambo Sprouts Marketing, the leader in natural and organic product marketing and promotions, which surveyed the buying habits of 1,066 natural and organic (N&O) consumers and their outlook for N&O purchasing for the coming year.

According to US Department of Commerce (DOC) estimates, online sales represent a minuscule percentage of overall retail sales. In 2007, only 3.2% of total retail sales took place on the Internet. Of course, large categories where e-commerce has hardly made a dent—such as autos, gasoline and groceries—skew the results.

Looking forward to 2009, more than a quarter of recently surveyed small business owners plan to spend more on advertising, and another 60% plan to spend about the same as in 2008.

With bad news continuing on nearly every economic front, holiday travel remains a tradition - at least among those that can afford it. According to a recent Maritz(R) Poll, wealthier Americans plan to spend, on average, nearly $1000 more this year on holiday travel, compared to last. However, lower middle income earners plan to spend half as much on holiday travel compared to last year.

The year 2008 was a challenging period for dealmakers. Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the United States were hampered by an ever dwindling credit market. Should current conditions continue into the new year and financing remain limited, M&A activity in 2009 will be on the light side with a few silver linings. The deal landscape will be dominated by distressed investments across sectors including financial services, automotive, consumer products and retail, according to the Transaction Services group of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Existing-home sales weakened against a backdrop of an eroding economy, according to the National Association of Realtors(R).

Consumer confidence and spending began slowing as early as Spring 2007, according to a recent analysis by Experian Marketing Services, a part of global information company Experian. The analysis, based on data from Experian(R) Simmons(SM) and Experian Hitwise(R), found that from Spring 2007 to Summer 2008, the percentage of U.S. adults who felt they would be financially better off in the next year dropped considerably from 46 percent to 37 percent.

Americans are setting aside more money for emergencies than any other saving needs, according to new surveys released Visa Inc. Saving for emergencies and a rainy day (30 percent) topped the list of what Americans set aside money for, followed by retirement (20 percent) and education (10 percent). Overall, sixty-six percent of Americans surveyed said they set aside some amount every month for major expenses.