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ST. LOUIS NEWS TODAY - Monday, November 29, 2004
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Famous-Barr in downtown St. Louis attracted few shoppers on the weekend after Thanksgiving.
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Online Shopping the Day After Thanksgiving
Jumps 11 Percent
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com) November 29, 2004 - The day after Thanksgiving, otherwise known as "Black Friday," traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year, saw the highest number of online shoppers thus far during holiday season 2004.
According to the latest Nielsen//NetRatings Holiday eShopping Index, 26 percent more shoppers, or 13.3 million people, visited online stores on November 26 than the previous Friday, November 19.
"Even diehard holiday shoppers that weather the Black Friday crowds at sunrise know to research the Web for product selection and price comparisons before heading out to the mall," said Ken Cassar, director of client analytics, Nielsen//NetRatings. "Online shoppers deluged the Web sites of their favorite brick-and-mortar stores, as well as online retail resources."
More than Half of Americans Expect to Give Gift Cards
According to the Coinstar National Currency Poll, 57% of Americans say they plan to give friends and family the "gift of choice" this holiday season by giving gift cards. Among these respondents, an average of 23.8 percent of holiday budgets will go towards the purchase of gift cards. The survey showed that 62.2% of 45-54-year-olds -- more than any other group -- and 71.5% of households with annual income levels greater than $75,000 plan to purchase gift cards this holiday season. Additionally, more women (60.3%) than men (53.4%) plan to give gift cards.
In keeping with the true spirit of giving, most Americans put themselves last when it comes to splurging during the holiday season. The Coinstar National Currency Poll asked consumers to choose what they would be most likely to splurge on this holiday season. The majority (41.3%) reported they would purchase a bigger or better gift for someone on their list, while only 7.9% said they would splurge on themselves. More than one in four (26.3%) said they would splurge on a nice dinner out with the family; and 12.8% said they would splurge on a holiday production, musical, concert or other special holiday event.
"We expect the convenience and choice that gift cards afford will continue to fuel their growing popularity," said Gretchen Marks, vice president of marketing, Coinstar, Inc. "Gift cards fit the bill for today's busy holiday shoppers who are looking to save time and eliminate stress when it comes to choosing the right gift."
Holiday Shopping Online: Plan Ahead for Secure Surfing
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com) November 28, 2004 - With the holidays fast approaching, online shopping is a great way to get a jump on getting all your gifts.
In a new report, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) stated that before starting to shop on the Internet, consumers should know how to keep their computer and private information secure. The FTC encourages online shoppers to follow these tips to be sure that no online grinch or gremlin gets in the way of their celebration.
- Use anti-virus software and a personal firewall and keep them up-to-date. Anti-virus software scans incoming communications for troublesome files. Look for anti-virus software that: recognizes current viruses as well as older ones; can effectively reverse any damage; and updates automatically. Make sure that you update your anti-virus protection software regularly. A firewall blocks unauthorized access to your computer; if you have a broadband connection, it's especially important that you run a firewall to block communications from unauthorized sources.
- Make sure your web browser and operating system are up-to-date. Your web browser security setting should be high enough to detect unauthorized downloads, for example, at least the "Medium" setting for Internet Explorer. Your operating system (like Windows or Linux) may offer free software "patches" to close holes in the web browser or operating system that spyware, hackers, or phishers could exploit.
- Don't email your financial information. Email is not a secure method of transmitting financial information like your credit card, checking account, or Social Security number. If you initiate a transaction and want to provide your financial information through an organization's website, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser's status bar or a URL for a website that begins "https:" (the "s" stands for "secure"). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some fraudulent sites have forged security icons.
- Be cautious about opening any attachment. Don't open an email attachment - even if it looks like it's from a friend or co-worker - unless you are expecting it or know what it contains. If you send an email with an attached file, include a text message explaining what it is. Remember not to click on links in pop-up ads. They could install harmful files on your computer.
FDA Acts to Remove Ephedra-Containing Dietary Supplements From Market
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com) November 28, 2004 - The Food and Drug Administration has intensified its efforts to protect consumers against harmful products and their sometimes fatal side effects by taking enforcement action against dietary supplements with ephedrine alkaloids marketed as a treatment for serious diseases and conditions.
In a report, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said, "We are once again sending a message that HHS and the FDA will not tolerate the marketing of dietary supplements that are more likely to harm health than help it."
The complaint, filed by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas in U.S. District Court in Houston, charges that VITERA-XT, an ephedra-containing dietary supplement marketed by Houston-based Asia MedLabs, Inc., is an adulterated food as well as an unapproved and misbranded drug, which present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury.
At FDA's request, Asia MedLabs' supply of VITERA-XT was embargoed by the Texas Department of State Health Services prior to the filing of today's enforcement action.
On November 23, the U.S. Marshalls armed with a warrant seized more than 2.1 million VITERA-XT capsules in the possession of Asia MedLabs, Inc. located on the 9100 block of Winkler Drive in Houston, Texas. Of the total, one million were yet unpackaged capsules; the remainder were contained in more than 14,000 labeled bottles.
"We've issued a rule banning ephedra-containing products and we're sparing no effort to stop their manufacture and distribution. If any of these dietary supplements are still on the store shelves, I urge the retailers to stop selling them immediately," said Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Lester M. Crawford.
In December 2003, the FDA informed manufacturers of dietary supplements containing ephedra, including MaxLabs, Inc., located at the same address and under the same ownership as Asia MedLabs, that products would be considered adulterated under a forthcoming rule banning ephedra-containing dietary supplements. FDA's ephedra ban was published in February and took effect in April of this year.
New Data Show Rising Safety Belt Use Rates in Most States
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com) November 28, 2004 - Thirty-seven states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico increased safety belt use between 2003 and 2004.
The new statistics also show that the 95 percent belt use rate barrier has been broken for the first time this year by two states: Arizona and Hawaii.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said, "It's no coincidence that as safety belt use reaches record levels that we are seeing record low fatality rates. We will keep up the pressure because we still have too many Americans dying on our roads and too many Americans not wearing their safety belts."
Earlier this year, Secretary Mineta announced that the nationwide survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed belt use rates have hit the milestone of 80 percent - the highest level in the nation's history. NHTSA's high-visibility "Click It or Ticket" campaign has produced consistent and significant increases in safety belt use since 2001. Over that period, nationwide use rates have increased from 73 percent to 80 percent, saving approximately 3,400 lives.
The new state-by-state statistics show where the biggest gains are being made. Leading the nation in safety belt use: Arizona (95.3 percent); Hawaii (95.1 percent); Washington State (94.2 percent); Oregon (92.6 percent); and Michigan (90.5 percent). Also registering more than 90 percent belt use in 2004 were California (90.4 percent); and Puerto Rico (90.1 percent).
States with the lowest belt usage rates in the nation in 2004: Mississippi (63.2 percent); Massachusetts (63.3 percent); Arkansas (64.2 percent); South Carolina (65.7 percent); and Kentucky (66 percent). New Hampshire was the only state not to report a statistically reliable estimate of its belt use rate for 2004.
The five states achieving the greatest gains in safety belt use between 2003 and 2004 are: Arizona (9.1 percentage point gain); Nevada (up 7.9 percentage points); Delaware (up 7.4 percentage points); Michigan (up 5.7 percentage points); and Virginia (up 5.3 percentage points).
Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge, head of NHTSA, credited several national organizations for their substantive involvement with high-visibility "Click It or Ticket" enforcement mobilizations. Among them: the Governors Highway Safety Association; The Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign; The International Association of Chiefs of Police; the National Sheriffs' Association; as well as over 10,000 state and local police agencies throughout the country. He also credited two other DOT agencies, the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, for their emphasis on nationwide safety belt use.
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