FROM OUR SPONSOR'S COLLECTION
FROM OUR SPONSOR'S COLLECTION
  

 
JANUARY 2003

Population of Americans Aged 55+ Expected to Grow 60% in Next 20 Years; In 2002 Grandparents Over the Age of 55 Spent Almost $23 Billion on Goods for their Grandkids

(New York, NY) Over the next 20 years the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population will be those aged 55 and over. According to The U.S. Mature Market: New Perspectives on the 55+ Consumer, a new research report published by Packaged Facts and available through MarketResearch.com, this demographic will constitute nearly 30% of the population in 2022, compared to approximately 21% in 2002.

JCPenney Announces New Children's and Men's Appointment

(Plano, TX) Vanessa Castagna, J.C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JCPenney Stores, Catalog and Internet, announces the appointment of Lana Cain Krauter, 51, as Executive Vice President and General Merchandise Manager, Men's and Children's Division. She will report to Castagna, effective Feb. 3, 2003.

Dallas Market Center Launches "MomentumDallas"; New Home for the Apparel Industry Included in Master Plan

(Dallas) Dallas Market Center (DMC), the world's largest wholesale merchandise complex, today unveiled plans for a massive re-merchandising of its Dallas campus, most notably the construction of a dramatic new fashion facility, Fashion Center Dallas, within the World Trade Center. 

Rising Consumer Income, Low Interest Rates Propel 2003 Economy

(Washington, DC) After a year of constant economic ups and downs, the National Retail Federation (NRF) released its forecast today, predicting that 2003 GAFS sales (general merchandise stores, apparel stores, furniture and home furnishings stores, electronics and appliances stores, and sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores) are estimated to increase 5.6 percent from last year.

Business Wire Retail Report on December 2002 Retail Sales Figures

(Hollywood, FL) Business Wire's Monthly Retail Report is available on the day that retail sales figures for the previous month's sales are announced by the various retailers nationwide, usually the first Thursday of each month. The Retail Report is based on information provided and released by the retailers.

2002 Holiday Shopping Season Comes to a Close with Consumers Spending More Than $13.7 Billion Online

(Rochester, NY) Wrapping up the 2002 online holiday shopping season, consumers spent nearly $13.7 billion, according to the eSpending Report from The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Harris Interactive, and Nielsen//NetRatings. Online spending jumped more than 24 percent year-over-year, up from $11 billion spent in 2001. Including travel, online spending grew nearly 22 percent to $15.7 billion.