[Automotive] With crude oil approaching $100 a barrel and gasoline topping $3 for much of 2007, and the credit crisis putting negative pressure on the auto market, small was big, and mpg trumped hp. ...Read the whole story

[Research] But thanks to economic worries, "we expect people to focus a lot of time and energy improving their careers and getting out of debt," Nielsen reports. It expects resolutions related to debt reduction to increase sharply. And it says resolutions related to saving money will rise, from 11% to 24% of all finance-related resolutions. ...Read the whole story

[Strategy] The site aims to provide consumers with shopping deals covering all aspects of life, says Brian Costello, GM/interactive at Valassis. "We're trying to find good deals we think you'll like, and provide marketers with another way to go out and tell consumers what's going on," he says. ...Read the whole story

[Politics] A study by E-Poll Market Research, which researches celebrities and brands, finds that celebrities are not as influential in politics as they may be in selling products, fashion, entertainment and books. In fact, says E-Poll, some endorsements may actually work against the candidates. ...Read the whole story