According to the latest McKinsey Quarterly global survey, executives' overall confidence in economic conditions has risen for the second quarter in a row, though the overall economic outlook six months out is a bit less positive. China is the only country where executives believe conditions will be better in six months, either globally or in their own country and industries.

According to response from the metropolitan markets surveyed regularly by The Media Audit, the participation of females and Hispanics in the blue collar workforce is increasing. Female participation in the blue collar work force is now at 34.9 percent, up from 31.6 percent in 2000, while Hispanics as a percent of the blue collar work force increased from 19.0 percent to 22.5 percent.

Retail Forward's Future Spending Index foresees stronger consumer spending in the month ahead. The index increased in April for the second month in a row, as the month-to-month increase indicates better growth than last year as well. Steve Spiwak, an economist with Retail Forward, said "Despite fears of an impending slowdown, shoppers are telling us they plan to boost their spending in the near term primarily because they feel better about job prospects".