Congress edges toward a compromise on spending
The Washington Post
Put this in the "small accomplishments" category for an especially gridlocked Congress: It appears increasingly likely that, with little fuss, lawmakers will approve a bipartisan compromise in coming days that will keep government running past Dec. 16, when a short-term funding measure that has kept the lights on expires.More

Democratic Sen. McCaskill finds House defense bill riddled with earmarks
McClatchy Newspapers
House Republicans banned earmarks, a top symbol of congressional profligacy, after they won control of the chamber last fall in a wave of voter anger over excessive government spending. But more than half of the amendments to this year's House Department of Defense authorization bill were earmarks, according to Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, a leading congressional critic of the practice. More

House bill would extend pay freeze
Government Executive
House Republicans recently unveiled a payroll tax cut extension bill that includes an additional pay freeze for federal employees and lawmakers and increases the amount both groups contribute to their pensions. The legislation extends the current two-year federal pay freeze through 2013 for federal workers and also applies to members of Congress. More

Panetta to unveil defense strategy next month as budget prelude
Bloomberg News
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta next month will unveil results of the Pentagon's strategic review of U.S. roles, missions and worldwide posture, his spokesman said. "Specific plans for public rollout haven't been finalized, but you can expect the secretary and other officials to start to talk about the strategy we have worked through, the process by which we are building the fiscal 2013 budget and eventually the budget itself," spokesman George Little told reporters. More

For top US military officer, economy emerges as major concern
National Journal
To understand how much the job of the nation's top military officer has changed, consider the issue Army Gen. Martin Dempsey identified as one of his top concerns. "We are extraordinarily concerned about the health and viability of the euro, because of the potential for civil unrest and the breakup of the [European Union] that has been forged over there," Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the audience at an Atlantic Council event.More

US military chief eyes euro zone fallout risks
Reuters
The top U.S. military officer said recently he believed the euro zone was at great risk and warned that any breakup could have consequences for the Pentagon, even threatening its top weapons program.More

Army to slash thousands of civilian jobs in 2012
Government Executive
Army officials said they will cut 8,700 civilian positions next year at 70 locations across 37 states. The jobs will be eliminated by Sept. 30, 2012, to cope with anticipated budget cuts, according to a Pentagon announcement. Ninety percent of the cuts will come from the Installation Management Command, the Army Materiel Command and Training and Doctrine Command, although five other commands also will see reductions.More

Doomsday war games: Pentagon's 3 nightmare scenarios
The Christian Science Monitor
Pentagon planners have plenty to deal with these days — Iran in search of nuclear-weapons technology, suicide bombings in Afghanistan, and the final pullout of U.S. troops in Iraq potentially leaving behind a security vacuum in the Middle East. But in war games in Washington recently, U.S. Army officials and their advisers debated three nightmare scenarios in particular. More

Food trends point to higher prices, more meals at home
Packaging Digest
A continued desire to save money will lead more Americans to eat at home in the coming year, and consumers will rely even more on technology to shop for bargains and make community connections, predicted Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert.More

Customer driven: Food industry outlook
Supermarket News
Supermarkets will offer more "everyday fair pricing" in the years ahead, as part of a hybrid-EDLP model; will continue to shutter underperforming stores, leading to consolidation of food retailers; and will increasingly offer payment and other solutions for consumers through mobile devices.More

Food Lion offers sweet holiday tips
Progressive Grocer
Food Lion is now offering its MVP cardholding customers a Southern Living magazine guide of seasonal recipes and tips to help shoppers entertain family and friends in festive style. The offer runs through Dec. 27.More

Pushpins Inc. helps your grocery shopping experience with coupons, lists, nutrition
AppAdvice
The holidays are coming up very soon, and that means more large dinners. So how about an app that will make the entire experience easy? Pushpins will do that, and a whole lot more.More

Dr. Oz touts best frozen foods for weight loss
EmaxHealth
Contrary to current views that food must be fresh in order to be healthy, Dr. Oz presents his choice of the best frozen foods for losing weight.More

Q&A: Why Yankee Candle trumps Victoria's Secret
MarketingDaily via MediaPost
These days, it's hard to find a retailer that doesn't insist that social networking strengthens its connection to shoppers. Trouble is, not many feel they can measure the effect. More

Shoppers say 'ho-hum' not 'ho-ho-ho' to sales
The Associated Press via The Sacramento Bee
Sale, schmale. Used to be, customers would come running when stores cut prices. But these days, more Americans are becoming blase about bargains. More

Martha's deal miffs Macy's
The Wall Street Journal
Martha Stewart's deal with J.C. Penney Co. could well get her company into hot water with Macy's Inc. The media and merchandising company raised $38.5 million by selling a stake to Penney and providing two board seats, a deal that could help the department-store chain's new chief, Ron Johnson, shape up his struggling housewares business.More

Shoppers plan to spend more, hold the plastic
USA Today
Consumers plan to spend considerably more this holiday, but not in the same way they have in years past. Where will Americans be shopping? The most popular destination remains big box stores, like Wal-Mart and Best Buy, where 42 percent of shoppers plan to do at least some spending, according to CNBC's All-America Economic Survey.More

What to expect from retailers this holiday season
U.S. News and World Report
So far, most signs point to a very merry holiday season for retailers and shoppers alike. Early numbers from the National Retail Federation show that shoppers spent almost $400 apiece on Black Friday weekend, up from $365 last year. Surveys also indicate that the spending will continue through December; the NRF expects overall holiday sales to increase 2.8 percent over last year.More

Retailers, small businesses brace for postal cuts
USA Today
Snail mail is about to trudge even slower, forcing companies dependent on the postal service, such as prescription-medication firm Express Scripts and thousands of small businesses, to revamp fundamental business models.More

7-Eleven's 'groundbreaking' new strategy
CSP
7-Eleven Inc. has a struggle, a key hurdle it is working hard to overcome: luring new customers. And piggybacking on its already successful "Concentrated Market Rollout," the convenience store chain is working on what it calls a "groundbreaking" new strategy to get past it.More

What's in store for retail in 2012
STORES
How does one go about making predictions about the next 12 months when potential game changers and disrupters seem to be occurring on a weekly basis? If there was only one prediction to be made about retailing in 2012, it would have to be "Hold on, it's going to be a heck of a ride!" — quickly followed by the suggestion that if change is not your forte, it may be time to explore new career options.More

Retailers find holiday spirit through social media
Forbes
The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and once again, we find ourselves scrambling to figure out what to buy our friends and family. For Santa, it's easy. He's the guy with all the lists. For the rest of us, it's really just a guessing game, which makes holiday shopping hard and frustrating at times. Retailers feel this frustration the most, since they only want to stock the shelves with items we will buy. The following are four social networking tips for retailers this holiday season.More

New study is first to test the actual impact of branded apps on consumers
Retail Customer Experience
A new research study co-authored by an Indiana University professor suggests that interactive applications for mobile phones such as Apple's iPhone and Google's Android may be some of the most powerful forms of advertising yet developed.More

Dr Pepper preps 2012 price increase
Convenience Store News
Carbonated soft drink consumers with a taste for Dr Pepper will pay slightly more for the beverage in 2012. Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. President and Chief Executive Larry Young said Dec. 12, that the company expects to see a modest 1.5 to 2 percent price increase next year, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.More

AAFES 2012 Seminars

2012 Power Zone Seminar: The dates are July 30–Aug. 3, in Orlando at Caribe Royale Hotel. Below is a link to the hotel.
www.thecaribeorlando.com

2012 Express Seminar: May 7-11, in St. Charles, Ill., at Pheasant Run Resort.
www.pheasantrun.com More

Exchange offers support on some level to entire military
Exchange - Army Air Force Exchange Services Press Affairs
On any given day, a variety of visitors, contractors and Department of Defense civilians visit any one of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service's more than 3,000 food, entertainment and retail operations around the world. The question most frequently posed by these visitors is "Who's authorized to shop these facilities?"More

Ferriter takes command of Installation Management Command
U.S. Army MWR
Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter took the reins of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command from Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch during a change of command ceremony Nov. 17 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno presided over the changing of the guard for the command, which relocated from suburban Washington, D.C., to South Texas during the past two years as part of Base Realignment and Closure.More

Report offers state of military families
Military.com
After 10 years of war the government is making strides in taking care of service members and their families but significant challenges remain, according to a recently released report from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. But while the 28-page report makes a number of recommendations to lawmakers, "Unsung Heroes: Military Families after 10 Years of War," is directed more broadly at an American public increasingly distant from the military, says one of its writers.More

Air Force Services Agency
AFSA
The Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Program has been recognized as essential for creating and maintaining the morale of military personnel. Services programs have long provided essential food, fitness, lodging, recreation and services for military members.More

Services strikes down barriers
Air Force Services Agency
It's 15 pounds, glows in the dark and can "strike" down the competition with a slight move of the thumb. As part of continuing efforts to support Air Force wounded warriors, this summer the Air Force Services Agency officials purchased and distributed 85 remote controlled bowling balls and ramps for installations worldwide.More