Mortgage Marvel Rate Trends Shows 30-Year Fixed Rates Fell in April
MEQUON, WI, May 02, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --
Mortgage Marvel Rate Trends(TM), a daily survey of more than 1,000
lenders, shows conforming, 30-year, fixed rates fell in April,
closing out the month at 3.96 percent. Late in the month, the
economic news from Europe continued to be negative, which led
investors to seek the safety of U.S. Treasury notes. Increased buying
drives down interest rates on these notes, and mortgage rates track
these rates closely. This is clearly good news for those looking to
buy or refinance a home.
"Most economists are indicating that rates will continue to stay
low," said Rick Allen, chief operating officer of Mortgage Marvel.
"The housing market is warming up and mortgage interest rates are
staying low, which runs counter to most expectations. Consumers
should consider acting now if they are looking to refinance a
mortgage or purchase a home."
30-Year Fixed Rate - As of April 30, 2012
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Current Rate 7 Days Ago Change
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.96% 3.98% -0.02%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 30-year fixed rate on April 30 was 0.31 percent lower than the
6-month high of 4.27 percent reached on Oct. 30, 2011.
30-Year Fixed Rate - Highs & Lows
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Period High Low
--------------------------------------------------------------
Rate Change* Date Rate Change* Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 Days 4.12% -0.16% 4/4/2012 3.95% 0.01% 4/24/2012
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
90 Days 4.18% -0.22% 3/20/2012 3.91% 0.05% 2/2/2012
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
180 Days 4.27 -0.31 10/30/2011 3.91% 0.04% 2/2/2012
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Change based on difference from current rate
Other popular products
Fifteen-year fixed rates also headed lower in April, closing out the
month at 3.2 percent after reaching a high of 3.35 percent on April
4. 5/1 ARMs fell as well to 3.18 percent on April 30 after hitting a
high of 3.33 percent on April 2. The rates for 30-year, fixed rate
jumbo loans (typically loans over $417,000) closed the month at 4.74
percent after reaching a high of 5.02 percent on April 5.
For comparison sake, displayed rates feature 0 discount points unless
otherwise indicated. The assumed loan amount and loan-to-value ratio
are $500,000 and 66% for jumbo loans and $187,500 and 75% for all
other programs.
For more detailed information, including an interactive graph and
state-level detail, go to
www.mortgagemarvel.com/mortgageratetrends/ .
For specific rates and closing costs in your area, go to
www.mortgagemarvel.com/Pages/AdvancedSearch.aspx .
About Mortgage Marvel Rate Trends
Mortgage Marvel Rate Trends pulls rates every day directly from the
live product and pricing database of more than 1,000 national,
regional, and local banks and credit unions across the country.
Mortgage Marvel Rate Trends includes average rates for conforming
(i.e. loans below $417,000) and jumbo loan programs across all common
fixed and adjustable rate products. Mortgage Marvel Rate Trends also
separately tracks rates for purchase, rate & term refinance, and
cash-out refinance transactions for every product and program, and
for every state and region in the U.S.
About Mortgage Marvel and Mortgagebot
Mortgage Marvel (
www.MortgageMarvel.com ) presents free, accurate,
up-to-date mortgage quotes from multiple lenders in an
easy-to-understand display. It further enables borrowers to link
directly to their preferred lender -- where they can complete a
mortgage application and get approved with full disclosures, all in
about 20 minutes or less.
Mortgage Marvel is operated by Mortgagebot LLC (
www.Mortgagebot.com ),
the industry-leading, Inc. 5000 company that provides the unique,
award-winning PowerSite family of integrated point-of-sale (IPOS)
solutions. Mortgagebot blends deep mortgage experience with
innovative "cloud-computing" technology to create scalable and
affordable Web sites for nearly 1,000 banks and credit unions
nationwide.
Contact:
Ana Tackett
602/237-5572
SOURCE: Mortgagebot
Copyright 2012 Marketwire, Inc., All rights reserved.
Financial Glossary
Words used in this article:
11 Small Caps Trading Near Highs With Strong Inventory Trends
Do you prefer investing with a stocks momentum trends? For ideas on how to start your own momentum search, we ran a screen.
We began by screening the small-cap sector, with market caps between $300 million and $1 billion, for those trading within 5% of their 52-week highs, indicating strong upward momentum.
We then screened these names for those with strong sales trends, comparing growth in revenue to growth in inventory over the last year. We screened for stocks with positive sales trends, with faster growth in revenue than inventory over the last year. Since inventory represents the portion of goods not yet sold, faster growth in revenue than inventory is considered a good sign.
To screen for healthy liquidity, we also only focused on those companies with inventory declining as a percent of current assets.
Interactive Chart: Press Play to compare changes in market cap over the last two years for the top six stocks mentioned below. Analyst ratings sourced from Zacks Investment Research.
Your browser does not support iframes.
We also created a price-weighted index of the stocks mentioned below, and monitored the performance of the list relative to the Samp;P 500 index over the last month. To access a complete analysis of this lists recent performance, click here.
Do you think these stocks will break through to new highs? Use this list as a starting point for your own analysis.
List sorted by increase in revenue over the last year.
1. Flotek Industries Inc. (FTK): Provides oilfield services and equipment to the energy and mining industries in the U. Market cap at $710.76M, most recent closing price at $13.79. The stock is trading 1.69% below its 52-week high. Revenue grew by 57.82% during the most recent quarter ($74.9M vs. $47.46M y/y). Inventory grew by 36.1% during the same time period ($37.89M vs. $27.84M y/y). Inventory, as a percentage of current assets, decreased from 34.9% to 28.69% during the most recent quarter (comparing 3 months ending 2011-12-31 to 3 months ending 2010-12-31).
2. American Vanguard Corp. (AVD): Engages in the manufacture, development, and marketing of specialty chemical products for agricultural and commercial uses in the United States and internationally. Market cap at $676.45M, most recent closing price at $24.38. The stock is trading 0.89% below its 52-week high. Revenue grew by 35.68% during the most recent quarter ($84.68M vs. $62.41M y/y). Inventory grew by -4.02% during the same time period ($71.07M vs. $74.05M y/y). Inventory, as a percentage of current assets, decreased from 62.43% to 39.82% during the most recent quarter (comparing 3 months ending 2011-12-31 to 3 months ending 2010-12-31).
3. Susser Holdings Corporation (SUSS): Operates convenience stores and distributes motor fuels in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Market cap at $577.8M, most recent closing price at $27.56. The stock is trading 3.42% below its 52-week high. Revenue grew by 28.54% during the most recent quarter ($1,295.13M vs. $1,007.55M y/y). Inventory grew by 17.33% during the same time period ($98.72M vs. $84.14M y/y). Inventory, as a percentage of current assets, decreased from 40.07% to 31.42% during the most recent quarter (comparing 13 weeks ending 2012-01-01 to 13 weeks ending 2011-01-02).
4. AZZ Incorporated (AZZ): Manufactures electrical equipment and components for power generation, transmission and distribution, and industrial markets primarily in the United States and Canada. Market cap at $648.25M, most recent closing price at $50.91. The stock is trading 4.08% below its 52-week high. Revenue grew by 22.78% during the most recent quarter ($123.63M vs. $100.69M y/y). Inventory grew by 1.23% during the same time period ($60.28M vs. $59.55M y/y). Inventory, as a percentage of current assets, decreased from 20.97% to 19.91% during the most recent quarter (comparing 3 months ending 2012-02-29 to 3 months ending 2011-02-28).
5. Universal Forest Products Inc. (UFPI): Distributes, and installs lumber, composite wood, plastic, and other building products for the DIY/retail, site-built construction, manufactured housing, and industrial markets. Market cap at $732.23M, most recent closing price at $37.14. The stock is trading 3.55% below its 52-week high. Revenue grew by 18.05% during the most recent quarter ($457.11M vs. $387.23M y/y). Inventory grew by -10.3% during the same time period ($218.55M vs. $243.64M y/y). Inventory, as a percentage of current assets, decreased from 53.43% to 50.27% during the most recent quarter (comparing 13 weeks ending 2012-03-31 to 13 weeks ending 2011-03-26).
6. Abaxis Inc. (ABAX): Develops, manufactures, markets, and sells portable blood analysis systems for use in the human or veterinary patient-care setting to provide clinicians with rapid blood constituent measurements in the medical and veterinarian markets. Market cap at $766.74M, most recent closing price at $35.20. The stock is trading 4.33% below its 52-week high. Revenue grew by 13.8% during the most recent quarter ($42.72M vs. $37.54M y/y). Inventory grew by -1.06% during the same time period ($19.6M vs. $19.81M y/y). Inventory, as a percentage of current assets, decreased from 15.97% to 15.38% during the most recent quarter (comparing 3 months ending 2012-03-31 to 3 months ending 2011-03-31).
7. Zygo Corporation (ZIGO): Designs, develops, and manufactures ultra-high precision measurement solutions to enhance its customers manufacturing yields; and optical sub-systems and components for original equipment manufacturers and end-user applications in the United States and internationally. Market cap at $363.45M, most recent closing price at $19.91. The stock is trading 1.96% below its 52-week high. Revenue grew by 10.94% during the most recent quarter ($40.04M vs. $36.09M y/y). Inventory grew by -9.55% during the same time period ($24.62M vs. $27.22M y/y). Inventory, as a percentage of current assets, decreased from 26.18% to 17.98% during the most recent quarter (comparing 3 months ending 2011-12-31 to 3 months ending 2010-12-31).
8. LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. (LF): Provides technology-based learning platforms worldwide. Market cap at $622.68M, most recent closing price at $9.11. The stock is trading 3.93% below its 52-week high. Revenue grew by 10.76% during the most recent quarter ($210.21M vs. $189.79M y/y). Inventory grew by -27.73% during the same time period ($34.29M vs. $47.45M y/y). Inventory, as a percentage of current assets, decreased from 20.23% to 12.58% during the most recent quarter (comparing 3 months ending 2011-12-31 to 3 months ending 2010-12-31).
9. Standex International Corp. (SXI): Operates as a diversified manufacturing company in the United States and internationally. Market cap at $552.48M, most recent closing price at $43.50. The stock is trading 4.17% below its 52-week high. Revenue grew by 9% during the most recent quarter ($154.87M vs. $142.08M y/y). Inventory grew by -1.03% during the same time period ($78.19M vs. $79M y/y). Inventory, as a percentage of current assets, decreased from 37.55% to 32.76% during the most recent quarter (comparing 3 months ending 2011-12-31 to 3 months ending 2010-12-31).
10. BioScrip Inc. (BIOS): Provides pharmacy and home health services in the United States. Market cap at $417M, most recent closing price at $7.60. The stock is trading 2.10% below its 52-week high. Revenue grew by 7.31% during the most recent quarter ($483.3M vs. $450.37M y/y). Inventory grew by -14.69% during the same time period ($56.74M vs. $66.51M y/y). Inventory, as a percentage of current assets, decreased from 24.02% to 19.4% during the most recent quarter (comparing 3 months ending 2011-12-31 to 3 months ending 2010-12-31).
11. ICU Medical, Inc. (ICUI): Engages in the development, manufacture, and sale of disposable medical connection systems for use in vascular therapy applications in the United States and internationally. Market cap at $739.1M, most recent closing price at $52.01. The stock is trading 1.76% below its 52-week high. Revenue grew by 5.65% during the most recent quarter ($75.51M vs. $71.47M y/y). Inventory grew by -27.17% during the same time period ($37.29M vs. $51.2M y/y). Inventory, as a percentage of current assets, decreased from 22.96% to 13.51% during the most recent quarter (comparing 3 months ending 2012-03-31 to 3 months ending 2011-03-31).
*Accounting data sourced from Google Finance, all other data sourced from Finviz.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.
Survey Shows Top Outdoor Living Trends for 2012
WASHINGTON, May 03, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
The American love affair with the back yard shows no signs of slowing,
according to the 2012 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends survey
conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects. The results
show a preference for an undemanding outdoor space for lots of
entertaining.
Landscape architects with a specialization in residential design across
the country were asked to rate the expected popularity of a variety of
residential outdoor design elements. The category of gardens and
landscape spaces, with 94.9 percent rating somewhat or very popular, was
followed closely by outdoor livings spaces at 91.5 percent, which were
defined as kitchen and entertainment spaces.
Across all categories, 97.4 percent of respondents rated grills as
somewhat or very in-demand for 2012, followed by low-maintenance
landscapes (96.6 percent), fireplaces/fire pits (95.8 percent), and
dining areas (95.7 percent). Lighting features remained a popular choice
from 2011 at 93.1 percent, as Americans plan to take more of their lives
outside once the sun sets -- to an extent.
"The economic recovery continues to struggle, but residential design has
remained stronger than other categories throughout the recession," said
ASLA Executive Vice President and CEO Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA.
Americans also love their pools (79.2 percent), but not quite as much as
their spas (80.4 percent) and other decorative water elements (89.9
percent), such as waterfalls or bubblers.
Seating and dining areas remain high on people's lists (95.7 percent),
as do installed seating at 86.9 percent and weatherized outdoor
furniture at 81.2 percent.
When thinking of gardening, Americans tend toward the practical and
sustainable with native plants (86.3 percent) and food/vegetable gardens
(81.2 percent), with over half of them preferred to be organic (61.2
percent).
Besides planting locally and organically, other sustainable elements
continue their popularity with homeowners. Native or drought-tolerant
plants (85.4 percent), drip irrigation (81.7 percent), and permeable
paving (71.6 percent) are making their way into outdoor living spaces
across the country.
Additional information on residential landscape architecture can be
found at
www.asla.org/residentialinfo .
About the Survey
The survey asked residential landscape architecture professionals about
the estimated popularity of various design elements for 2012. The survey
was fielded April 9 through April 18, 2012, with 118 responding.
Outdoor Design Elements (Percent rating somewhat or very popular for
2012)
Outdoor living spaces (kitchens, entertainment spaces) -- 91.5%
Gardens/landscaped spaces -- 94.9%
Outdoor recreation amenities (pools, spas, tennis courts) -- 78.4%
Sustainable design practices -- 70.1%
Turf lawns 50.9%
ADA/Accessible design -- 20.7%
Outdoor Living Features (Percent rating somewhat or very popular for
2012)
Grills -- 97.4%
Fire pits/fireplace -- 95.8%
Seating/dining areas -- 95.7%
Lighting -- 93.1%
Installed seating (benches, seat walls, ledges, steps, boulders) -- 86.9%
Weatherized outdoor furniture -- 81.2%
Counter space -- 76.0%
Utility storage -- 59.5%
Stereo systems -- 57.8%
Refrigerators -- 55.5%
Sinks -- 53.9%
Televisions/projection screens -- 48.7%
Showers/baths -- 45.2%
Wireless/Internet connectivity -- 42.7%
Outdoor heaters -- 39.9%
Outdoor cooling systems (including fans) -- 33.1%
Hammocks 27.4%
Bedrooms/sleeping spaces -- 9.5%
Outdoor Recreation Amenities (Percent rating somewhat or very popular
for 2012)
Decorative water elements such as ornamental pools, splash pools,
waterfalls, grottos, water runnels or bubblers -- 89.9%
Spa features (hot tub, Jacuzzi, whirlpool, indoor/outdoor sauna) -- 80.4%
Swimming Pools -- 79.2%
Sports/recreational spaces (tennis courts, bocce ball, etc.) -- 56.9%
Movie/video/TV theatres -- 30.8%
Landscape/Garden Elements (Percent rating somewhat or very popular
for 2012)
Low maintenance landscapes -- 96.6%
Fountains/ornamental water features -- 87.2%
Native plants -- 86.3%
Food/Vegetable gardens (including orchards/vineyards etc.) -- 81.2%
Xeriscaping or dry gardens -- 64.3%
Organic gardens -- 61.2%
Rain gardens -- 55.6%
Ponds/streams -- 52.2%
Rooftop gardens -- 38.3%
Sustainable Design Elements (Percent rating somewhat or very popular
for 2012)
Native/adapted drought-tolerant plants -- 85.4%
Drip/water-efficient irrigation -- 81.7%
Permeable paving -- 71.6%
Reduced lawn -- 70.9%
Recycled materials -- 58.6%
Rainwater/graywater harvesting -- 55.2%
Compost bins -- 51.4%
Solar-powered lights -- 32.8%
Geothermal-heated pools -- 21.7%
Outdoor Structures (Percent rating somewhat or very popular for 2012)
Terraces/patios/decks -- 95.7%
Fencing (includes gates) -- 90.6%
Arbors -- 88.7%
Ornamental water features such as fountains or splash pools -- 88.1%
Pergolas -- 85.2%
Steps -- 81.1%
Decks -- 74.5%
Porches -- 72.4%
Kitchens/ovens -- 70.3%
Art (sculptures, murals etc.) -- 60.2%
Utility shed (tool shed, garden shed etc.) -- 56.5%
Play structures (tree house, swing set, etc.) -- 54.7%
Awnings, including retractable -- 52.6%
Pavilions -- 52.3%
Columns -- 49.6%
Gazebos -- 49.1%
ADA-accessible structures (ramps, bars, accessible shelving etc.) -- 14.6%
SOURCE: American Society of Landscape Architects
American Society of Landscape Architects
Michael Cowden, 202-216-2345
mcowden@asla.org
Twitter: @landarchitects
Copyright Business Wire 2012
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Therapy Trends: Multiple Sclerosis
NEW YORK, May 2, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --
Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:
Therapy Trends: Multiple Sclerosis
http://www.reportlinker.com/p0847521/Therapy-Trends-Multiple-Sclerosis.html #utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Therapy
An incisive report and dynamic analyst briefing service delivering insight from the most influential Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Key Opinion Leaders to map the current treatment landscape and analyse future trends.
Multiple Sclerosis: On the cusp of a treatment revolution
The year 2012 will see landmark changes in the treatment of MS. Gilenya, the first novel drug in five years, is to be joined by three new products; BG-12 from Biogen Idec, Sanofi's Aubagio and Genzyme's Lemtrada. These drugs will partially satisfy substantial unmet needs of convenient administration and more efficacious therapy to drive unprecedented market growth.
Driven by in-depth interviews with the world's leading multiple sclerosis KOLs, Therapy Trends: Multiple Sclerosis uncovers how the current treatment landscape will be impacted by significant future events, with particular focus on pipeline therapies and how these will modify the way MS is managed by neurologists in the future.
Drive your strategic decision-making with inside intelligence
Therapy Trends: Multiple Sclerosis disseminates critical opinion and analysis to provide premier research.
We cut to the heart of market-changing events and eliminate superfluous background information so you can focus on developments of greatest strategic impact and reduce your reaction time
Our unique thought-leader selection matrix identifies the most influential KOLs in MS to deliver the perspectives vital in giving you a competitive edge, enabling informed decision-making and planning
Detailed analysis of marketed and pipeline drugs helps you understand the products that will shape the future MS market
KOL consensus on the future treatment algorithm offers a window into the future changes in medical evidence and clinical practice
Uncovering KOLs' opinions on unmet needs enables you to identify potential commercial opportunities
Dynamic report updates evaluate the market impact of key events from KOL perspectives, allowing you to react to significant MS market developments within days of events occurring
Critical questions answered
Our MS KOLs are selected according to their level of engagement and influence within the pharmaceutical industry and their scientific standing. FirstWord's unique KOL scoring system enables identification of KOLs with the greatest knowledge of how MS treatment will evolve and shape the future landscape.
What are the key unmet needs? There is a high risk, high reward opportunity in the development of a therapy with efficacy for progressive subtypes.
How will therapies will be positioned against each other in the future of MS treatment? Biogen's new oral therapy BG-12 is expected to usurp the current market leaders and become the first-line therapy of choice.
How will treatment developments play out in the near future? Biogen's activity in broadening its robust pipeline shows its resolve in maintaining its leading position in MS.
Is there potential for new players in the lucrative MS market? New entrants are set to capture significant share and cannibalise sales of the leading drugs.
Where will Sanofi's Lemtrada and Aubagio be positioned in treatment? Pricing and safety will play a large part in determining uptake of this highly effective drug
How will the launch of biosimilars affect prescribing behavior? Pricing will be a key determinant in positioning and uptake
How will Novartis's Gilenya be affected by recent safety concerns? Long-term concerns have kept it from being the first line therapy.
Will the new John Cunningham Virus test encourage earlier adoption of Tysabri? This offers the first example of personalised medicine; a trend that will aid uptake in future.
The deliverables
Therapy Trends: Multiple Sclerosis is delivered in two complimentary formats:
Therapy Trends Intelligence Report: a concise, focused, in-depth market intelligence research report that examines the range of current and late-stage pipeline drugs to determine future trends in the treatment and diagnosis of MS, and assess the commercial impact on the MS market landscape.
Therapy Trends Impact Assessments: dynamic analyst briefings evaluating the impact of events in the MS market over the next 12 months, delivered to you within days of a significant event happening
Key Benefits
Unmet needs analysis to identify opportunities and address the challenges facing disease management
Strategic mapping of future treatment algorithms based on KOL insight
Commercial and clinical analysis of pipeline therapies
In-depth, dynamic event impact assessments to evaluate current strategies and plans against new conditions
Align investment and resource planning to future trends
Know the story driving the trends
For users with responsibilities in
Business Development
New Product Planning
Market Research
Strategic brand planning
Forecasting and marketing professionals
Medical Affairs
Clinical Trials
Relationship Management
Informed Intelligence
The views from KOL panels comprising the foremost experts in the treatment and diagnosis of major medical conditions
Consensus ratings of therapeutic developments and events derived from a proprietary collaborative system involving 290,000 vetted physicians
Live dispatches from a correspondent network who attend 125+ medical conferences each year, feeding-in critical meeting intelligence
2,000+ peer-reviewed medical journals
450+ pharmaceutical news sources
Executive SummaryIntroductionMethodologyCurrent multiple sclerosis marketplace> Current treatment landscape> Multiple sclerosis market definition> Current market overview> Current therapies> Cross trial comparisons is not an ideal assessment> Gilenya (fingolimod; Novartis) trends> Gilenya has first oral to market advantage> Gilenya raises bar for pipeline therapies entering the market> Deaths mar Gilenya's side effect profile and positions drug as a second line> Vigilance program is cumbersome and likely to restrict access> Gilenya's high price will restrict use> Clinical trials in progressive multiple sclerosis ongoing> Tysabri (natalizumab; Biogen/Elan) trends> Tysabri is the most effective approved multiple sclerosis therapy> PML fears positions drug as second or later line> JCV test will promote use and allay fears> Progressive multiple sclerosis trials ongoing for Tysabri> Copaxone (glatiramer acetate; Teva) trends> Copaxone is the leading selling multiple sclerosis therapy> Teva fights generic Copaxone applications> Interferon betas (Avonex, Betaseron, Rebif, Extavia) trends> Interferons are the mainstay of multiple sclerosis treatment> Needles have evolved to avoid injection site reactions> Biosimilar guidelines in place for interferons> Current treatment algorithm> Multiple sclerosis unmet needs> Unmet need 1: Efficacy for progressive subtypes> Unmet need 2: Therapies offering better clinical profiles> Unmet need 3: Drugs to halt or repair neuronal damage> Unmet need 4: Improving multiple sclerosis induced cognition dysfunction> Unmet need 5: Need for improved adherenceFuture therapy trends> BG-12 (dimethyl fumarate; Biogen) trends> Impressive efficacy and safety means BG-12 will become the leading multiple sclerosis pill> BG-12 will become a first-line therapy and a major threat to Gilenya> Unknown tolerability profile could prevent uptake> Delay in efficacy and compliance are other barriers for uptake> Aubagio (teriflunomide; Sanofi/Genzyme) trends> Aubagio exhibits strong safety profile but has moderate efficacy> Aubagio has potential positioning as a combination therapy> Pricing will determine Aubagio's success> Laquinimod (Teva) trends> Phase III efficacy data is disappointing and less than current therapies> Compelling disability data suggests role in neuroprotection> Safety data and mechanism suits role as an add-on therapy> Lemtrada (alemtuzumab; Genzyme/Sanofi) trends> Lemtrada is one of the most effective pipeline therapies> Safety concerns may hamper uptake and reserve Lemtrada as a last-line or induction therapy> Sanofi will price Lemtrada in line with current treatments> Daclizumab HYP (Biogen/Abbott) trends> Daclizumab complements Biogen's portfolio with good safety and efficacy> Daclizumab positioning will be important for Biogen franchise> Ocrelizumab (Biogen/Roche) trends> Ocrelizumab represents the most advanced B-cell therapy> Ocrelizumab is highly effective in reducing relapses> Questionable long-term safety overshadows potential uptake> Future prescribing trends> More use of induction therapy in highly relapsing patients> Current first-line therapies will have a less prominent role in future treatment> Interferons and Copaxone can find a niche as combination therapies> Oral therapies will become the leading first- and second-line therapies> JCV test will drive earlier use of Tysabri> Potent but less safe therapies will remain last lineFuture developments in multiple sclerosis> Constrained pricing environments will reduce market access> Clinically isolated syndrome will be considered early stage multiple sclerosis in the future> Trend for earlier diagnosis and treatment will produce better outcomes> Trend to more symptomatic therapies being developed> Eventual development of biomarkers will aid treatment> Better understanding of underlying multiple sclerosis etiology> Methods to assess treatment failure could be implemented in the future> More emphasis should be placed on long-term outcome measuresFirstWord multiple sclerosis news analysis> Positive multiple sclerosis key news events> Current therapies> Pipeline therapies> Company therapies> Negative multiple sclerosis news> Current therapies> Pipeline therapies> Company therapiesFuture of multiple sclerosis diagnosis and treatmentAppendix 1> KOL biographies> KOLs from North America> KOLs from EuropeAppendix 2
To order this report:Therapy Industry: Therapy Trends: Multiple Sclerosis
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Market Research Report
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Industry Analysis and Insights
Contact Nicolas: nicolasbombourg@reportlinker.comUS: (805)-652-2626Intl: +1 805-652-2626
SOURCE Reportlinker
Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
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Branson to talk trends during May 25 visit
Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group and one of the worlds leading entrepreneurs and philanthropists, will be in Vancouver at a board of trade event later this month that marks the start of Virgin Atlantics new service between Vancouver and London.
Moderated by Simon Fraser University chancellor and former board of trade chair Carole Taylor, Bran-sons special luncheon presentation is scheduled to take place at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
Sir Richard Branson is no stranger to Vancouver, board of trade chair Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia said in a news release. When he was here during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Sir Richard announced a public-private consortium aimed at unlocking market-driven solutions to climate change. On May 25, hell be back as part of Virgin Atlantics launch of scheduled service between Vancouver and London, a terrific opportunity to get his unique perspective on corporate social responsibility, entrepreneurship and the dramatic changes and trends were seeing in business both here at home and across the world.
Richard Bransons creative way of looking at the world and todays business opportunities is a good benchmark for our organization and its members, added Iain Black, president and CEO of the Vancouver Board of Trade.
Black said board of trade members will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets for the event.
Virgin is one of the worlds most recognized brands. Conceived in 1970 by Branson, the Virgin Group encompasses a variety of sectors, including mobile, travel, financial services, lei-sure, music, holidays and health and wellness. Across its companies, Virgin employs nearly 50,000 people in more than 30 countries, and had global revenues of some $21 billion in 2011. Virgin Unite, the Groups non-profit foundation, works with partners to implement international programs and campaigns around issues such as health, economic empowerment, conservation and climate change.
Tickets went on sale May 2 exclusively to members of the Vancouver Board of Trade. They go on sale to the general public on May 8. For more information visit www.boardoftrade.com
Consumer Trends in the Oils & Fats Market in India
NEW YORK, May 2, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --
Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:
Consumer Trends in the Oils & Fats Market in India
http://www.reportlinker.com/p0847663/Consumer-Trends-in-the-Oils--Fats-Market-in-India.html #utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Consumer_Trends
Synopsis
This report provides the results for the Oils & Fats market in India from Canadean's unique, highly detailed and proprietary survey of consumers' Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) consumption habits, and forms part of an overall series covering all CPG product markets.Its coverage includes, but is not limited to, consumption behaviours, the extent to which consumer trends influence their consumption and the value of the market these trends influence, brand and private label choices as well as retailer choices. Much of this information can also be analyzed by specific consumer group, providing hard and fast data on consumers and markets at the product category level.
Summary
Why was the report written?Marketers in the Oils & Fats market face a major challenge. Understanding market size and segmentation is valuable, but the keys to effective targeting is knowing just how valuable specific consumer groups are, and being able to quantify the impact of consumer trends.This report solves these problems by providing integrated survey-based data on consumer trends, consumer groups and market data which show exactly the size of consumer groups, how much of the Oils & Fats market they account for and which consumer trends drive their behaviour.
What is the current market landscape and what is changing?
Oils & Fats are already well established in India. While population growth grow the size of the market, younger consumers consume less than their parents, something which will limit the market size unless innovations can find areas of latent demand. Instead the Oils & Fats industry should seek to find ways of offering greater value to Indian consumers in order to drive value growth.
What are the key drivers behind recent market changes?Consumers' uptake of products and the influence of consumer trends are fundamental causes of change in markets - making knowing what these trends are and the extent of their influence crucial.The survey-based data provided in this report examines over 20 consumer trends that affect the market and examines the share of sales across 26 consumer groups - providing through the data a detailed insight into exactly who the consumer is and just how much impact the latest consumer trends are having.
What makes this report unique and essential to read?
The data provided is unique in the market as it tracks consumer behaviour through to its actual value impact on a product market. This provides readers with a unique data analysis of the market allowing marketing tactics and strategy to be updated in line with the very latest consumer behaviours.
Scope
Consumer survey data for the following specific categories: Oils and Solid Fats.
Detailed consumer segmentation based on survey data covering over 26 consumer groups, 20 consumer trends and consumption frequency for each product category.
Volume shares in 2011 for brands and private label sales tracked by the survey.
Reasons To Buy
Unique proprietary data that sizes and segments consumers, tracks their behavior and shows the impact of this on their markets
Results also cover over 20 consumer trends, showing exactly to what extent these trends have a direct influence on a market. As this impact assessment is based not only on how many consumers act on these trends, but also how often they act on this it provides unique insight into the "size of the prize" when targeting these consumer trends in each category covered.
Key Highlights
Private labels have a low penetration in the market, of around 10% by volume in the Solid Fats market and only 3% in the Oils market. However, private labels are expected to grow their market share as the Indian retail environment develops and becomes increasingly concentrated.
Oils account for 83% of the Oils & Fats market by value. However, relatively low consumption by younger consumers means that this market share may decline in the future.
There is a partial attitude-behavior gap in the Oils product category in India. While over 40% of consumers claim to be influenced by the Changing Age Structures and Changing Lifestages trends, these only impact less than 30% of the value of the market. Despite the gap, consumers are acting on these trends enough to ensure that targeting them is essential to success.Table of Contents1 Introduction1.1 What is this Report About?1.2 Definitions1.2.1 Consumer Trends1.2.2 Consumer Groups and Legal Drinking Age Consumption (for Alcoholic Drinks coverage)1.2.3 End Consumers1.2.4 Volume Units and Aggregations1.2.5 Exchange Rates1.2.6 Population Profiles (for interpretation of tables and charts)1.3 Methodology1.3.1 Introduction1.3.2 Large scale, international, program of online consumer surveys1.3.3 Nationally Representative results (age, gender)1.3.4 Parents answered on their children's behalf1.3.5 Legal Drinking Age exclusions for alcoholic drinks categories1.3.6 Integrated with industry calling and secondary research2 Consumer Segmentation, Group Value and Trend Influence2.1 Cohort Groups and Oils & Fats Market Value2.1.1 Age Groups2.1.2 Gender Groups2.1.3 Location Groups2.1.4 Education Achieved Groups2.1.5 Wealth Groups2.1.6 Busy Lives Groups2.2 Cohort Groups and Market Value by Category2.2.1 Oils2.2.2 Solid Fats2.3 Behavioral Trends and Market Value2.3.1 Oils2.3.2 Solid Fats3 Consumption Analysis3.1 Consumption Frequencies by Age and Gender3.1.1 Oils3.1.2 Solid Fats3.2 Consumer Profiles by Product Category3.2.1 Oils3.2.2 Solid Fats4 Brand vs. Private Label Choices4.1 Brand vs. Private Label Volume Share4.1.1 By Category4.2 Oils & Fats Brand Choice and Private Label Shares4.2.1 Oils4.2.2 Solid Fats5 The Share of Consumers Influenced by Trends5.1 Trend Drivers of Consumers' Product Choices5.1.1 Overall Oils & Fats5.1.2 Oils5.1.3 Solid Fats6 Consumption Impact: Market Valuation6.1 Oils & Fats Value Impact of Consumer Consumption Behavior6.1.1 Market Value by Category6.1.2 Market Volume by Category6.2 Oils & Fats Value Analysis by Category6.2.1 Share by Category6.2.2 Expenditure per Capita by Category6.2.3 Expenditure per Household by Category6.3 Oils & Fats Volume Impact of Consumer Behavior Trends6.3.1 Share by Category6.3.2 Consumption per Capita by Category6.3.3 Consumption per Household by Category7 Appendix7.1 About Canadean7.2 DisclaimerList of TablesTable 1: Volume Units for the Oils & Fats MarketTable 2: Foreign Exchange Rate - INR Vs. US$, 2011Table 3: India Survey Respondent Profile (weighted), 2011Table 4: India Oils & Fats Value Share (%), by Age Groups, 2011Table 5: India Oils & Fats Value Share (%), by Gender, 2011Table 6: India Oils & Fats Value Share (%), by Urban and Rural Dwellers, 2011Table 7: India Oils & Fats Value Share (%) by Education Level Achieved Groups, 2011Table 8: India Oils & Fats Value Share (%) by Wealth Groups, 2011Table 9: India Oils & Fats Value Share (%) by Busy Lives Groups, 2011Table 10: India Oils Consumer Group Share (% market value), 2011Table 11: India Solid Fats Consumer Group Share (% market value), 2011Table 12: India Total Oils Value (Indian Rupee millions) and Value Share Influenced by Behavioral Trends, 2011Table 13: India Total Solid Fats Value (Indian Rupee millions) and Value Share Influenced by Behavioral Trends, 2011Table 14: India Oils Consumption Frequency Analysis (% by Age Group, by Consumption Group), 2011Table 15: India Oils Consumption Frequency Analysis (% by Gender by Consumption Group), 2011Table 16: India Solid Fats Consumption Frequency Analysis (% by Age Group, by Consumption Group), 2011Table 17: India Solid Fats Consumption Frequency Analysis (% by Gender by Consumption Group), 2011Table 18: India Oils Consumer Profiles (% consumers by sub-group), 2011Table 19: India Solid Fats Consumer Profiles (% consumers by sub-group), 2011Table 20: India Oils & Fats Private Label Penetration of Survey-tracked Sales (% Vol), by Category, 2011Table 21: India Oils Survey-tracked Brand Shares by Volume (% Vol), 2011Table 22: India Solid Fats Survey-tracked Brand Shares by Volume (% Vol), 2011Table 23: India, Overall Oils & Fats: Percentage of Consumers Stating that Specific Trends Influence their Consumption, 2011Table 24: India, Oils: Percentage of Consumers Stating that Specific Trends Influence their Consumption, 2011Table 25: India, Solid Fats: Percentage of Consumers Stating that Specific Trends Influence their Consumption, 2011Table 26: India Oils & Fats Market Value (Indian Rupee million), by Category, 2011Table 27: India Oils & Fats Market Value (US$ million), by Category, 2011Table 28: India Oils & Fats Market Volume (Kg m), by Category, 2011Table 29: India Oils & Fats Market Share (US$ million), by Category, 2011Table 30: India Oils & Fats Expenditure Per Capita (Indian Rupee), by Category, 2011Table 31: India Oils & Fats Expenditure Per Capita (US$), by Category, 2011Table 32: India Oils & Fats Expenditure Per Household (Indian Rupee), by CategoryTable 33: India Oils & Fats Expenditure Per Household (US$), by CategoryTable 34: India Oils & Fats Market Volume (Kg m) Share by Category, 2011Table 35: India Oils & Fats Consumption Per Capita (Kg m / Population m),by Category, 2011Table 36: India Oils & Fats Consumption Per Household (Kg m / Households m), by Category, 2011List of FiguresFigure 1: Consumer Panel Report MethodologyFigure 2: India Oils & Fats Value Share (%), by Age Groups, 2011Figure 3: India Oils & Fats Value Share (%), by Gender, 2011Figure 4: India Oils & Fats Value Share (%), by Urban and Rural Dwellers, 2011Figure 5: India Oils & Fats Value Share (%) by Education Level Achieved Groups, 2011Figure 6: India Oils & Fats Value Share (%) by Wealth Groups, 2011Figure 7: India Oils & Fats Value Share (%) by Busy Lives Groups, 2011Figure 8: India Oils Consumption Frequency Analysis (% by Age Group by Consumption Group), 2011Figure 9: India Oils Consumption Frequency Analysis (% by Gender by Consumption Group), 2011Figure 10: India Solid Fats Consumption Frequency Analysis (% by Age Group by Consumption Group), 2011Figure 11: India Solid Fats Consumption Frequency Analysis (% by Gender by Consumption Group), 2011Figure 12: India Oils & Fats Private Label Penetration of Survey-tracked Sales (% Vol), by Category, 2011Figure 13: India Oils & Fats Market Share (US$ million), by Category, 2011Figure 14: India Oils & Fats Expenditure Per Capita (US$), by Category, 2011Figure 15: India Oils & Fats Expenditure Per Household (US$), by Category
To order this report:Consumer Trends Industry: Consumer Trends in the Oils & Fats Market in India
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Shoe Carnival Gives the Competition Something to Scuff About
Commonly advertised as a "stock to watch for" over recent weeks, Shoe Carnival (NASDAQ: SCVL) proved its worth today as it reported decent 4Q earnings, great full year results and projected an outstanding outlook for 1Q12. As a result, the stock peaked at a seven month high today, up $3.28.
4Q sales, while in-line, were not terribly impressive due to excess boot inventory, (likely thanks to the premature sun shiny weather and non-existent snow). However, Shoe Carnivals sales team helped to move many units and the company ended up reporting impressive earnings for the 2011 fiscal year.
"Although our sales and earnings for the fourth quarter, and consequently, the 2011 fiscal year, did not meet our original expectations, we still recorded the second-best annual earnings in the Companys history," Mark Lemond, Shoe Carnvial President and CEO said on the March 21 conference call. "In short, I am pleased with our earnings performance in 2011 and the way our management team executed our overall strategy, especially in the face of continued economic headwinds and certain tough product comparisons."
Pleased he should be, as sales grew 3.2% to $762.5 million, up from the year priors $739.2.
The good news did not stop there, as it was highlighted on the conference call that 2012 will provide many growth opportunities for the retailer with the help of consumer tax refunds, warm weather and store expansion plans.
Sterne Agee took notice to the exciting hoopla surrounding Shoe Carnival today, subsequently raising estimates, rating (Neutral to Buy) and price target ($26 to $34) in accordance with what management projected for 2012.
In a research report published earlier today, Sterne Agee said, "SCVL is benefiting from the very strong athletic cycle which is driving higher ASPs through innovation. Also, SCVL management is seeing modest improvement in the economy, and believes that their customer has more money to spend. Besides the ongoing square footage growth in the 7.5% area, an improving ecommerce platform, and having the toning business rock its way into history, it is clear to us that SCVL is taking share from some larger family footwear players. Given the history of strong execution, an improving economy and the current trends, we expect that SCVL will continue to gain share."
Shoe Carnival is not the only company benefitting from the weather and athletic footwear harmony. Foot Locker (NYSE: FL) recently revised its five year plan to include ambitious store openings, doubled earnings and increased productivity of assets.
It seems the shoe industry is on a steadily positive streak at the moment, with many thanks being given to Mother Nature. DSW (NYSE: DSW) is also slated to open more stores, which revenues are expected to benefit from in 4Q12.
It seems the recession and rising gas prices have yet to damper the footwear industry this year, and with weather becoming increasingly more pleasant, not much will be able to halt its steady pace.
Shoe Carnival is currently up +18.02% YTD, trading at $30.46. Foot Locker is currently up +29.45%, trading at $30.88. DSW is currently up +25.7% YTD, trading at $55.43.
Internet Lighting Retailer 1000Bulbs.com Improves Customer Experience
Newly enhanced website features include improved navigation, intelligent search and a variety of tools for both business and consumers.
Garland, TX (PRWEB) April 02, 2012
Internet lighting retailer 1000Bulbs.com has revealed a variety of customer experience improvements to their website in recent months. The aesthetic and functional changes are the product of suggestions by the lighting retailers customer base and lighting industry experts. The improvements include a cleaner look, intuitive navigation, intelligent search, social network integration, customer reviews and a variety of tools for both businesses and consumers.
One of the most significant improvements to the website is an integrated product search that intelligently returns accurate search results while omitting any irrelevant results, a drastic change from the websites previous simple text search. The search also helps customers find products with faceted navigation of results, enabling the customer to filter results by price, manufacturer and other product specifications.
Customers may also save their frequently ordered products to Favorites folders. This feature provides users with the ability to repeat recent orders without re-adding each product to their shopping cart. Similar customer-oriented features include an address book and payment method selector, which allow users to save multiple addresses and credit card numbers for shipping or payment. For the first time, international customers may also order from the site and ship to addresses outside the US.
Customers, too, have enhanced the 1000Bulbs.com shopping experience by writing more than 5,000 product reviews. The site's new review functionality allows customers to write a review, give a product a rating from one to five stars and evaluate the effectiveness and value of the product. The review area also encourages customers to upload application photos for display on the product page. Other customers can vote on the helpfulness of individual reviews and share their favorite reviews via Facebook, Twitter or Digg. 1000Bulbs.com customer reviews are also archived at dedicated subdomain of the site as a customer shopping aid.
An improved feature aimed at commercial clients is the new "quotes" area. The feature allows a 1000Bulbs.com sales representative to send quotes for large-quantity orders to clients' account pages for their review. Customers may review the quotes for a 30-day period by logging into their account. The quotes area is one of many features designed to integrate the company's web and person-to-person sales experiences.
1000Bulbs.com also enhanced preexisting features after carefully assessing customer feedback. The sites well-known category-based navigation tool is still intact but is cleaner and simpler with the added advantage of side-by-side product comparisons. The company also reworked its product recommendation tool to collect previous client data and deliver corresponding and related products to the client. The site will only get better with time, says CEO Kim Pedersen. We believe the website will provide the same ease-of-use customers are used to, but with constantly-evolving features that will stay one step ahead of their needs.
Indeed, 1000Bulbs.com also plans to launch several more features and improvements in the coming months. Some of these features include tighter integration with social media sites, further streamlined faceted navigation, and interactive finder tools that allow customers to select ballasts based on lamp type and number and to find batteries and automotive lamps based on vehicle make and model.
About 1000Bulbs.com: 1000Bulbs.com is an award-winning Internet-based lighting retailer. The company offers everything from simple, household light bulbs to cutting-edge specialty lighting systems. Nationally recognized for growth, innovation, and customer satisfaction, 1000Bulbs.com is an influential force in the lighting industry.
For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/4/prweb9346782.htm
Dexclusive.com boosts conversion 50% by dumping ‘garbage traffic’
This low-quality traffic also had a negative impact on the retailers page rank andsearch engine results, because those visitors didnt go beyond the home page,Picariello says. Most of these visitors were only on our site for a few seconds and clicked right off, he says.
So last summer, the retailer cut off about 1,000 affiliates and reduced three affiliate marketing networks to only Commission Junction. That was the main reason traffic dropped 30% in 2011, but conversion went up 50% from 0.8% to 1.2%, Picariello says. We stopped working with those affiliates because it wasnt worth getting all the garbage traffic slowing down our site with no conversions, Picariello says. Now we are only getting people truly interested in purchasing watches.
Another contributor to higher conversion was the shift from a Miva Merchante-commerce platform to a custom-built Magentosite, Nul says. We have a lot more user-generated content now, he says. Customers can now tag our products or Like them on Facebook; we added product comparisons, wish lists and more product images. We widened our screen, too, so we can fit more content on one page. This is all definitely boosting our Google search results.
The shopping cart is also more streamlined now, with fewer steps involved in the checkout process. The addition of Checkout by Amazon also contributed to higher conversions, Picariello says. Thats because some customers like paying for items by only entering their Amazon.com username and password, as opposed to their entire credit card billing information and address. Nearly 25% of shoppers currently pay with Checkout by Amazon, while 25% use PayPal and around 50% use credit cards.
The fraud protection is a lot better with Amazon too, Nul adds. They cover all the costs if someone fraudulently purchases from us and we get a chargeback. This is a big deal for us, because we sell high-end watches, sometimes $3,000 or $4,000 apiece.
The changes Dexclusive.com implemented in the last year are positioning the retailer for more growth in 2012, and Nul is forecasting a 100% increase in sales.
April Anderson, retail industry director at Google, will speak at the Internet Retailer Conference amp; Exhibition 2012 in June, in a session titled, Paid search strategies for the smaller merchant. The IRCE $200 early-bird discount expires March 31.
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Groups Call on NY’s Top Environmental Cop to Enforce 40-Year-Old Disclosure …
ALBANY, NY (03/19/2012)(readMedia)-- Twenty one groups delivered a letter to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joseph Martens today asking him to enforce a nearly 40-year-old law that requires the manufacturers of household cleaning products to disclose the sometimes dangerous and toxic chemical ingredients in their products, as well as the health risks the chemicals pose. For maximum benefit to consumers, the groups also called for a user-friendly, searchable, centralized database of product and chemical data.
Spring is nearly here and with it spring cleaning. As New Yorkers break out their mops and buckets, they shouldnt still be guessing whats in their cleaning products said Saima Anjam of Environmental Advocates of New York. Its time to step up and dust off this 40-year-old law. Lets shine some light on what consumers are bringing into their homes and exposing their families to.
What are cleaning product manufacturers trying to hide? said Ansje Miller, Eastern States Director for the Center for Environmental Health. Under the status quo, the only ones left in the dark are the consumers and workers who use cleaning products on a regular basis. If these products were truly safe, disclosing their ingredients shouldnt be a problem.
New Yorkers have a right to know what chemicals are in cleaning products, and 40 years is much too long a time to wait for a law to be enforced, said Sarah Eckel, Citizens Campaign for the Environment. According to the EPA, cleaning products are among the top five most common exposures to poison for children. New Yorkers right to be informed and protect their families is long overdue.
Since 1976, state regulations have required that manufacturers of household cleaning products selling their wares in New York file semi-annual reports with the DEC listing the chemicals in their products and describing any company research on their health and environmental effects. The law was passed in 1971. Decades went by without meaningful enforcement, depriving consumers of information they need to protect themselves.
Scofflaw cleaning product companies need to know that they cannot ignore New Yorks regulations any longer, said Deborah Goldberg, Managing Attorney of Earthjustice. On the other hand, full disclosure will help green and responsible companies, because once there is a website that offers easy product comparisons, consumers can stop buying the toxic cleaners.
In the letter, the organizations, which include American Lung Association in New York, Center for Health, Environment amp; Justice, Clean and Healthy New York, CRAAB!, Center for Environmental Health, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Citizens Environmental Coalition, Consumers Union, Earthjustice, Empire State Consumer Project, Environmental Advocates of New York, Grassroots Environmental Education, Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Institute for Health and the Environment, New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, New York Public Interest Research Group, NYSUT, Riverkeeper, Inc., Sierra Club, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, and Womens Voices for the Earth formally requested
that Commissioner Martens make public disclosure of household cleaning product ingredients a priority. The DEC has committed to require that household cleaner companies reveal the chemicals in their products and any health risks they pose and has been working to develop a system that will provide this valuable information to the public. But the agencys proposal has been under consideration for more than a year, and it is now time to make this process a priority. The groups are asking the agency to accelerate the timeline for action, so New Yorkers have access to this information as soon as possible.
Household cleaning products typically contain an array of chemicals that can be harmful to public health and to the environment. A growing body of evidence associates exposure to such chemicals with long-term effects, such as cancer and hormone disruption. And because many cleaning chemicals survive sewage treatment systems intact and are released into streams and other bodies of water, there is growing concern such chemicals pose a threat to fish and other wildlife.
Some companies seem to think that household cleaner chemical disclosure should be made only on a need-to-know basis. Well, guess what: New Yorkers need to know, because toxic chemicals in household products can affect our quality-and length-of life, said Bobbi Chase Wilding, Deputy Director for Clean and Healthy New York. Were counting on DEC to move forward quickly to collect this crucial information from all companies and provide the public easy access.
The Sierra Club recognizes the importance of cleaning to protect health especially of children, elderly, pregnant woman and others with existing health conditions. But just as people are not the same, we recognize that not all cleaning products are the same. Disclosing ingredients will help household consumers identify the products that best protects their familys health, and it will make it easier to reward innovative companies who create effective products that are safer for health and the environment, said Steve Ashkin, Sierra Club, Toxics Committee.
From detergents to disinfectants and aerosol sprays, these household products do more than make our homes sparkle: they contribute to indoor air pollution, are poisonous if ingested, and can be harmful if touched, said Laura Haight, New York Public Interest Research Group. The public has a right to know what these products contain so they can make informed decisions as consumers.
The groups assert that contrary to the claims of household cleaning product manufacturers, it is not enough to have industry-selected information posted voluntarily on individual company web sites. Multiple locations and inconsistent presentations of data make it difficult, if not impossible, for even the most diligent consumers to determine whether a particular cleaning product contains dangerous chemicals or if there are safer alternatives on the market.
The solution, the groups say, is a user-friendly, searchable, centralized database of product and chemical data.
In our recent report, Dirty Secrets, we revealed that popular cleaning products like Tide Free and Gentle laundry detergent contain some nasty chemicals like 1-4 dioxane, a known carcinogen, that are not disclosed on the label, said Erin Switalski, executive director of Womens Voices for the Earth. New York has a law on the books that would require companies to disclose the presence of such chemicals-all the state needs to do is start enforcing it.
Many household cleaners contain chemicals that can trigger asthma attacks, leaving users struggling to catch their breath, said Michael Seilback, VP Public Policy and Communications at the American Lung Association in New York. Giving consumers access to the information they need to protect their health makes sense and is New York State law: we urge the Commissioner to enforce it.
Despite the dangers of many of the chemicals used in cleaning products, there is no state or federal requirement compelling cleaning product manufacturers to identify chemical ingredients on product labels. Although New Yorks reporting law has largely been forgotten, its mere existence means the state leads the nation in household cleaner right-to-know laws.
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