U.S. Bankruptcies on Pace to Fall to Pre-2008 Level

"The number of U.S. businesses and consumers filing for bankruptcy fell 14 percent in the first half of 2012 and could end the year at the lowest level since before the 2008 financial crisis, according to data released on Thursday."

Economists See 7.5 Percent Unemployment By End of 2013

"The National Association for Business Economics said the country's 'subpar' recovery will continue over the next year and a half. Employment, housing and spending metrics will continue to improve, albeit at a sluggish pace, the group forecasted, with unemployment only ticking down to 8 percent by the end of this year, before falling to 7.5 percent at the end of 2013."

1.1 Billion Smart Connected Devices To Ship This Year

"More than 916 million smart connected devices--including PCs, smart phones, tablets, and other similar devices--shipped worldwide last year. And, according to a new report, that number could double in the next five years. Expenditures on these devices exceeded $489 billion."

Research: Women Make Better Bosses

"Women make better bosses. That’s the finding of a new survey, which found that women in management positions lead in a more democratic way, allow employees to participate in decision-making and establish interpersonal channels of communication."

U.S. Growth Expected to Slow

"While the GDP grew at a healthy 3% at the end of 2011, most economists see slower growth at the start of 2012 and over the next two years."

Hiring Index Shows Broad Optimism

"U.S. employers are showing signs of widespread optimism about hiring across the country and in all work sectors, employment firm Manpower said Tuesday."

Survey Finds Uptick in Economic Optimism

"The U.S. economy is improving faster than economists had expected. They now foresee slightly stronger growth and hiring than they did two months earlier."

Almost Half of US Workers Say Weight is Biggest Health Concern

"Losing weight is the top health concern for almost half of American workers. According to new research, 43 percent of employees said losing weight was their top health priority for 2012."

Office Politics a Necessary Evil, Survey Finds

"In a study from staffing firm Robert Half International, nearly 60 percent of workers said involvement in office politics is at least somewhat necessary to get ahead."

More Americans Plan to Save, Not Spend, Their Tax Refund

"Of those expecting a refund, 44% said they plan to stash some of it in savings, up from 42% last year, according to a survey of more than 8,700 consumers by the National Retail Federation. That marks the highest percentage in the survey's nine-year history."

Facebook Profiles Predict Job Success

". . .the findings of a new study by a trio of universities that looked at how Facebook profiles predict job success."

The Most 20 Powerful US CEOs 40 and Under

"Some of them started their own businesses, while others joined established ones and quickly ascended. There are also lucky execs who knew all the right people, and some who took over family businesses. Regardless of how they got there, these young chief executives are the heads of the country’s biggest publicly traded companies by market capitalization, as of Feb. 13, that have CEOs 40 and under."

The Discontented Thirties

"According to a new research study by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College, the people who are most satisfied with their jobs are older employees – those age 50 and up. The most dissatisfied? Those between the ages of 30 and 39."

Bosses Who Work Out Are Nicer

". . . bosses who hit the gym tend to be less abusive to their employees. That's according to a study in the Journal of Business and Psychology."

Employees Reveal Why They Hate Their Bosses

"A study by talent management expert DDI revealed that one in three employees don't consider their boss to be doing an effective job, while nearly half of workers think they could do their boss's job better than them."

Home Buying: Most Affordable in Decades

"Buying a home is now more affordable than it has been in the last twenty years. Thanks to continued declines in home prices and rock-bottom mortgage rates, the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index hit a record level of affordability."

U.S. Jobless Rate Projected to Fall Sharply

"Economists in a survey see the unemployment rate falling much faster this year than previously expected, an improvement in the jobs market that could help President Obama's re-election chances."

CFOs: Humor a Key Part of Workplace 'Fit'

"A sense of humor is important for fitting into a company's corporate culture and may be key to getting -- or staying -- employed, a U.S. survey says. The survey . . . was based on interviews with more than 1,400 chief financial officers . . ."

Young CEOs Offer Risks and Rewards

"The average age of incoming CEOs at S&P 500 companies has been on the decline — it was 52.9 in 2010, down from 54.7 in 2006, according to the WSJ."

US Economy Losing Competitive Edge: Survey

"The United States is becoming less economically competitive versus other nations, with political gridlock and a weak primary education system seen as the main drag, according to a survey released on Wednesday."