China wants its economic engine to be fueled by more domestic demand. That's likely to happen, as there will be 280 million affluent consumers in that country by 2020, which would be more than double the current numbers, per Boston Consulting Group. BCG describes as affluent people with annual household disposable incomes of between $20,000 and $1 million. The upper affluent - those earning between $40,000 and $1 million per year - will account for 40% of the 280 million, the BCG study said. The firm says affluents will propel 40% of China's consumption growth and comprise 35% of all …

Volkswagen Middle East and Rotana Group signed a year-long partnership at an event featuring Arabic star Wael Kfoury, who is signed to Rotana Audiovisual, and the world premiere of his new music video featuring a Volkswagen Touareg. The collaboration will see Volkswagen Middle East supporting Rotana Audiovisual and its artists at events throughout the region.

Budweiser has launched a sampler three-pack of the dozen new beers it has created during the Project 12 crowdsourcing initiative. Thousands of consumers tasted and gave feedback on the Project 12 beers, which were produced by 12 American brewmasters tasked with coming up with experimental beverages by the beer brand. "We've never done anything like this before," said Rob McCarthy, vice president of Budweiser.

High hopes abound for BlackBerry 10, RIM's make-or-break device. Research in Motion only owns 9.5% of the smartphone market, according to Boy Genius Report, but on Jan. 30 the company will show off its new BlackBerry 10 platform and the first devices to run the operating system to consumers, following months of meetings with carriers and influentials. Thorsten Heins, RIM CEO, says the next version of his phone gives the company "a clear shot at being number three" behind the iPhone and Android. The Canadian phone-maker got a tweeted endorsement from British actor Stephen Fry, whose writes a tech column …

CVS/pharmacy is letting consumers upload images from their mobile devices to a Kodak Picture Kiosk, to create things like photobooks, personal greetings and calendars at CVS/pharmacy Photo Center locations nationwide. To access the service, customers must download the free Kodak Kiosk Connect App - available in Google Play or the Apple app store - to wirelessly import personal photos from their mobile device to CVS/pharmacy Kodak Picture Kiosks.

The National Retail Federation's 2012 holiday consumer spending survey conducted by BIGinsight shows that 81.1% of shoppers will purchase at least one gift card and will spend an average of $156.86 on gift cards, the highest amount in the survey's 10-year history. Total spending on gift cards will reach $28.79 billion.

Jagermeister is readying its biggest marketing campaign in the UK to date as it looks to convince consumers it is a drink to be savored and not to get drunk with on nights out. The German herbal liqueur plans to push the benefits of drinking Jagermeister as an ice-cold shot. It will target a slightly older demographic of 25- to 35-year-old males compared to the brand's traditional 18-to-25 group.

The UK Office of National Statistics has revealed that the size of chocolate bars and sweets have dropped by as much as 10% in the past year partly because of inflation there, with rising food prices a factor. Thus, confectionery products are being reduced in size but still cost the same. "This is treated as a price increase as consumers get less for their money," said Richard Campbell, a statistician at the ONS. Cadbury recently decreased the weight of its Dairy Milk chocolate bar from 49g to 45g while continuing to charge 59 pence.

The Los Angeles city council has unanimously passed a resolution that declares every Monday a "Meatless Monday," becoming the largest city to endorse the movement to curb meat consumption. The resolution is obviously voluntary for citizens, and the council members say it was passed in "support of comprehensive sustainability efforts as well as to further encourage residents to eat a more varied plant-based diet to protect their health, protect animals and protect the environment."

7-Eleven Inc. will get the Red Bull Editions flavors until the end of the year at participating stores. The brand's new flavor extensions come in red, silver and blue cans with the taste of sweet cranberry, fresh lime and fruity blueberry. "Red Bull is one of 7-Eleven's top-sellers, and we are the largest U.S. retailer of Red Bull," said Jesus Delgado-Jenkins, 7-Eleven executive vice president of merchandising, marketing and logistics. 7-Eleven will price Red Bull Editions in line with Red Bull Energy Drink, Red Bull Sugarfree and Red Bull Total Zero, the company said.