Minorities, which currently represent about one third of the U.S. population, are expected to become a majority by 2042 and be 54% of U.S. residents by 2050, according to Census Bureau projections. The shift will happen sooner among children, 44% of whom are minority. By 2023, more than half are expected to be "minority," and by 2050, the proportion will be 62%. The largest share of children, 39%, is projected to be Hispanic, followed by non-Hispanic whites (38%), African Americans (11%) and Asians (6%). The Hispanic population is expected to nearly triple by 2050, growing from about one in six …

Chrysler says that it will spend $1.8 billion to convert a Detroit plant from producing traditional Jeep Grand Cherokees to making more fuel-efficient, car-based crossovers "of various sizes and dimensions" that represent an "evolution" of the older, gas-guzzling Jeep. Chrysler did not detail what vehicles it will produce beginning in 2010, but Thomas W. LaSorda, a Chrysler vice chairman, says it is moving aggressively to bring more fuel-efficient cars to market. He confirms Chrysler has formed a venture with Nissan Motor to source a new subcompact car from the Japanese automaker. And he says the new Dodge Journey crossover …

A U.S. Department of Agriculture study that examines how frequently consumers use data on nutrition labels finds that dietary fiber information is the only labeling component to have seen an increase during the 10-year period between 1995-96 and 2005-06. Use of the "Nutrition Facts" panel fell 3 percentage points during the period. There was an 11% decline in use of the ingredients list, and a 10% decline for the panel's information about calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium. The percentage decrease was greatest for health claims (17%). Use of information about sugar remained steady. Fiber, on the other hand, saw …

murketing n. A form or marketing where the product or service is not mentioned or shown. [Blend of murky and marketing.] "Murketing is a vague form of marketing -- the message isn't clearly spelled out, and the ad seems to bear little relation to the product," writes Kevin Courtney in The Irish Times. Pabst's Neal Stewart, for example, understood that overt commercial messages would turn off his target audience. Thus, the company shunned celebrity endorsements -- Kid Rock had been interested -- and devoted its budget instead to sponsoring a series of unlikely gatherings across the country. Like "some kind …

Michael Lynch, the head of global sponsorship management at Visa, seeks out Olympic athletes to represent the brand. The company now has deals with 15 U.S. athletes in sports such as track and field, snowboarding, BMX racing, gymnastics and swimming. It also has deals with more than 70 international athletes. Not many are as well known outside their sports as swimmer Michael Phelps, who signed with Visa early in 2002. Some, like BMX racer Bubba Harris didn't even make it to the Games. Lynch says while medals are great, the financial institutions linked to Visa began using the stories …

Navistar International has underwritten the estimated $2 million budget to produce a documentary about truck drivers that is scheduled to make its debut next week, and will spend perhaps an additional $3 million to stimulate interest in the film. The marketing campaign for "Drive and Deliver" resembles a Hollywood effort, with a red-carpet premiere, screenings, plans for charitable donations and a contest for student filmmakers. "Drive and Deliver," which runs about 45 minutes, follows three long-haul truckers as they travel around the country in the spring, making deliveries in a new long-haul truck -- the LoneStar -- that will …