New study reveals local consumers access an increasing number of online media sources before buying; use of online coupons and appointment scheduling on the rise
Nearly all consumers (97 percent) now use online media when researching products or services in their local area, according to BIA/Kelsey’s User View Wave VII, an ongoing consumer tracking study conducted [...]
More Than 500,000 Other Modifications Have Been Completed Since January 2008
Bank of America has completed nearly 21,000 mortgage modifications under the federal government’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), according to the bank’s latest monthly progress report to the Department of Treasury.
“We are in a position to show strong results in completion of permanent HAMP modifications [...]
Property and casualty insurance industry net income nearly tripled in 2009, to $35 billion, according to the Highline Data Performance Monitor.
The Performance Monitor, which aggregates key statutory financial data reported by individual insurance companies every quarter, also found that the life insurance industry saw net gain from operations more than triple to a five-year high [...]
Changes Enhance Control, Choice and Clarity for Customers
As part of its commitment to provide more control, choice and clarity for its customers, Bank of America announced that beginning this summer it will only authorize single debit card transactions at the point of sale if a customer has enough money in their account at the time.
This [...]
Guardian Analytics and Ponemon Institute Study highlights 40 percent of small and medium businesses change banks after a fraud incident
Guardian Analytics, the innovator in predictive analytics-based fraud prevention software, together with independent research firm, Ponemon Institute, announced the results of the 2010 Business Banking Trust Study. Over 500 executives and business owners from small and [...]
Slow job creation continues to drag on the economy, according to the Consumer Reports Index for March. This month’s findings show that, although the tide of job losses has been stemmed, the level of job creation needed to fuel a consumer recovery has not developed.
Consumer Reports Employment Index stands at 48.7 for March, reflective of [...]
Crude Oil Production Rose 60,000 Barrels Per Day From January
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) crude oil production rose to 29.31 million barrels per day (b/d) in February, an increase of 60,000 (b/d) from an estimated January level of 29.25 million b/d, according to a just-released Platts survey of OPEC and oil industry officials [...]
Sixth Consecutive Increase; Index is Growing at the Fastest Rate Since 1994
The Conference Board Employment Trends Index(TM) (ETI) rose in February for the sixth consecutive month. The index now stands at 93.5, up from January’s 93.2. During the past six months, the index increased by 13.4 percent (annual rate), the highest six-month growth rate since [...]
Largest State Workers’ Compensation System to Mandate Medical Billing EDI, Electronic / Paper Workflows, PHI Protections and Uniform Bill Data
Jopari Solutions is expanding its offering of eBill processing services in California to assist Payers’ compliance under the state’s new proposed Business Rules for Paper and Electronic Billing, published March 4, 2010. The proposed California rules [...]
The SFN Group Employee Confidence Index decreased by 1.2 points to 48.9 in February. The Index, which measures workers’ confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism in the economic environment, shows that fewer workers are confident in the strength of the economy and in job availability. On the contrary, more workers are optimistic about [...]