US economy picks up pace, averting stall
The New York Times
Economic growth in the United States picked up in the last quarter in the latest encouraging sign that the recovery, while painfully slow, had not stalled. Consumers spent more, especially on health care and utilities, and businesses invested more, in software and vehicles among other items, spurring the fastest growth in a year. More

Research from High Point Market
Furniture Today (blog)
Each High Point market, Furniture Today's edit and research team puts together a market overview. It's a compilation of the macro-economic indicators, such as unemployment, housing starts, consumer spending, mortgage rates and personal savings rates, influencing the furniture industry. It's also a style round-up of product introductions new and hot at market.More

Consumer sentiment rises in late October
Floor Daily
U.S. consumer sentiment improved in October, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan survey final October reading. The sentiment index rose to 60.9 from 59.4 the month before, topping expectations for 58.0 among economists. The preliminary October survey had seen a decline to 57.5.More

Pakistan government asked to buy and export surplus cotton
Yarns and Fibers Exchange
Cotton experts believe Pakistan can increase its revenue from cotton exports in the current financial year despite the fact that the industry already accounts for more than half of total exports. Total production of cotton is expected to be 15 million bales this season, Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association Multan Region Chairman Amaan Ullah told The Express Tribune, adding that maximum demand is 11 million bales from the textile industry.More

Remodeling activity reaches record levels
Specialty Fabrics Review
BuildFax has unveiled its BuildFax Remodeling Index for August 2011, showing that remodeling activity reached a record high during the month. BuildFax also released data showing, based on its national footprint of permit data, an estimate of more than 3.3 million residential remodeling projects will be permitted in 2011. More

Curve Couture finds stylish niche
California Apparel News
Last month, Deirdre Mick debuted boutique Curve Couture in Solana Beach, Calif., because she saw a void in the fashion market for boutiques specializing in sophisticated plus-size apparel. Curve Couture offers fashions in sizes 12 and up, from European designers such as Fred Sabatier and Franck Anna. It also offers New York brands Kouroush and Lauren Vidal, as well as Los Angeles labels Cordelia, Melissa Masse and Comfy. More

23 percent of companies offer customer support via Facebook
ZD Net (blog)
MarketTools, an online market research company that also provides software and services for enterprise feedback management, has released a new social media study. The biggest finding is that almost one-quarter of companies (23 percent to be exact) provide customer service and support via Facebook, and just over a tenth of firms (12 percent) provide customer service and support via Twitter.More

Heads up, table linen types ...
Home Textiles Today
The New York Tabletop Show wrapped up recently. Here's the 411 on the week from Traditional Home senior style editor Krissa Rossbund, who shared her thoughts during a presentation at tabletop showroom building 41 Madison.More