In June 2011, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation sponsored the second National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households to collect data on the number of U.S. households that are unbanked and underbanked, their demographic characteristics, and their reasons for being unbanked and underbanked. Read more »

Shoppers are planning their back-to-school budgets carefully. Many families plan to reuse items from last year and compare prices online. The National Retail Federation’s annual Back-to-School Survey finds that families with school-aged children will spend an average of $634.78 on clothes, shoes, supplies and electronics, down from $688.62 last year.

With current and relevant content from industry journals, travel guides and magazines this database provides well-rounded coverage of both the historical and current state of affairs in the hospitality and tourism field.  It also allows for focused study of specialized aspects of the industry – including cultural aspects of travel, leisure activities, economic aspects of tourism, and more.

The national study by Sallie Mae, How America Pays for College 2013, is a compelling look at how today’s families view higher education, manage higher education costs, and tap a variety of funding sources. This year’s study finds that families are adjusting to a new post-recession reality to pay for college.

• Higher scholarships and grants. “Free money” now pays for 30% of college costs, up from 25% four years ago.
• Reduced parent contributions. Parents now fund from income and savings 27% of college expenses, down from 2010’s peak funding of 36%.
• Unwavering belief in the value of college. 85% of parents strongly agreed that college was an investment in their child’s future, the highest in the last five years.
• New cost-consciousness. A higher number of families factor college costs into the choice of school.