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ST. LOUIS NEWS TODAY - Sunday, November 27, 2005
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Christmas Spirit High While Christmas Tree Purchases Should Hold Steady
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), November 27, 2005 - As most farms and retail lots prepare to open for the holiday season, U.S. consumers plan to buy about the same number of Real Christmas Trees this year as in 2004, according to the results of a nationwide poll conducted by Harris Interactive.
The poll, conducted for the National Christmas Tree Association, projects that 24% of U.S. households will purchase a Real Christmas Tree in 2005 which would be about 27 million trees. Last year, 27.1 million U.S. households purchased a farm-grown Christmas Tree. One-third as many households (8%) will purchase an artificial tree in 2005, according to the poll.
"We are encouraged by the fact that three times as many Real Christmas Trees will be purchased as fake trees," said Beth Walterscheidt, President-Elect of NCTA and chairman of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation. "If consumers follow through with these intentions, we'll see about the same number of Christmas Trees sold as last year."
The trade group is conducting several promotional campaigns, including a Help Santa Find the Perfect Real Christmas Tree national contest (offering $5,000 college scholarships to winning youths), an Internet interactive game, radio public service announcements and a national Trees for Troops program. This first-ever national effort teams the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, NCTA's charitable branch, and FedEx Corp. in delivering more than 3,500 Christmas Trees donated by farms in 17 different states to both overseas and domestic U.S. military bases.
"The ultimate goal of the promotional campaigns is to encourage more Americans to enjoy a traditional Christmas experience with their loved ones," stated Walterscheidt. "Real Trees have enhanced that experience for centuries and we want to preserve this special tradition for all time."
"We know that traditions and memories are drivers for our product," said Walterscheidt. "People who are more into Christmas are more likely to use a Real Tree instead of a fake one." To learn more about the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and how to support its mission of benefiting kids, families and the environment, visit www.ChristmasSPIRITFoundation.org.
Missouri's Exports $800 Million Ahead of Last Year's Record Pace
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), November 27, 2005 - Missouri exports through the third quarter of 2005 are more than $800 million ahead of the record $9 billion in global sales set in 2004, the Missouri Department of Economic Development has reported.
Through the end of September, Missouri exports totaled $7.5 billion compared to $6.7 billion after the third quarter of 2004, a nearly 12 percent increase. The Department of Economic Development is responsible for assisting Missouri firms in identifying business opportunities and partners internationally as part of Gov. Matt Blunt's commitment to making the state more competitive in the global marketplace.
"It is clear from these numbers that the governor's commitment to boosting Missouri's place in the global economy has been successful and we are encouraged by the state's direction when it comes to exporting Missouri goods across the globe," said Greg Steinhoff, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. "The growth in exports has a direct impact on employment and on our economic development efforts and we will continue to promote our workers and products to an ever expanding global marketplace."
Nine of Missouri's top ten export product categories increased global sales in the third quarter of 2005, including agricultural products (up 76.4 percent), machinery (up 22.2 percent), electrical equipment (up 20.5 percent), fabricated metal products (up 20.4 percent), food products (up 18.7 percent), primary metal manufacturing (up 18.1 percent), transportation equipment (up 10.5 percent), plastics and rubber products (up 8.7 percent), and chemicals (up 0.3 percent). The minerals and ores product category is the state's fastest growing export with an increase of 283.5 percent. The only top product area with a decrease was computers and electronics at -6.3 percent.
Missouri export data for 2004, the most recent available, shows that Canada was Missouri's top trading partner with $4 billion worth of exports. Mexico was second with $946 million in exports while Japan was third in 2004 with $434 million. The Missouri export data was compiled from the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research.
"Jury Duty" Identity Theft Scam Reported
ST. LOUIS, (PRNewswire), November 27, 2005 - Attorney General Jay Nixon and the Office of State Courts Administrator (OSCA) have warned Missourians that bogus calls are circulating from individuals posing as officers of state and federal courts in an attempt to steal personal information that can be used for identity theft.
Several states have reported the emergence of the scam, including Alaska, Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. Typically, the scammer will call an individual claiming they work with a federal or state court and will inform the intended victim that he or she failed to show up for jury duty. After threatening arrest, the caller will then ask for confidential information - such as a Social Security number, date of birth and credit card number - which they will then use to make purchases, obtain cash, raid bank accounts or even take out loans.
"These individuals are using the old 'phishing' scam, but this one has the new element of fraudulently threatening the intended victim with arrest," Nixon said. "Missourians need to remember, never give out personal financial information to people you don't know. Legitimate organizations will never ask for it."
According to Mike Buenger, state court administrator for OSCA, courts usually contact potential jurors by mail - not by telephone. Courts that issue notice for jury duty do not ask - nor do they need - to obtain an individual's Social Security number or credit card number.
"It is a very disturbing and outrageous development to see that people are hijacking our jury system and preying on the civic duty of citizens to engage in fraud and theft," Buenger said.
Anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of this scam should contact their local authorities and the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-392-8222.
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