The U.S. Postal Service reported a strong first quarter with a 5.5% increase in mail volume and a net income of $1.7 billion. Most of the increase was in financial mail and catalogs. Also, the USPS Board of Governors directed management to prepare a rate case filing with the Postal Rate Commission to cover an escrow requirement of $3.1 billion resulting from changes set forth in the Postal Civil Service Retirement System Funding Reform Act of 2003. The escrow must be established by Sept. 30, 2006.

The Federal Communications Commission has declined to exempt specific industries from the national no-call list, but issued a clarification to the existing-customer exemption to strike a balance between business and privacy interests. The FCC said it would not make exemptions to the no-call list for certain industries. The FCC also ruled that contracts companies have with consumers signify an existing business relationship with those consumers allowing companies to continue to call consumers with whom they have contracts under the list’s existing business relationship exemption. The ruling should be significant for industries such as banking, lending and insurance.

The FCC announced the release of a list of wireless domain names to prevent commercial e-mailers from sending solicitations to wireless e-mail addresses. The CAN-SPAM Act prohibits sending unsolicited commercial e-mails and text messages to wireless devices such as cell phones. Commercial e-mailers will have 30 days to cease e-mailing the domain names and must download updates from the list at least once a month.

American Express Publishing Corp. reported that Travel + Leisure extended its reach down under this September with the launch of Travel + Leisure Australia. This newest edition of the U.S.-based magazine joins other overseas efforts such as Travel + Leisure en Español, Travel + Leisure Russia and Travel + Leisure Turkey. The first issue will have distribution of 60,000 with circulation consisting of paid subscriptions, newsstand sales and controlled circulation. Travel + Leisure Australia will publish 10 times yearly and have a cover price of $6.95 (Australian dollars).

The New York Times Company reported that it agreed to buy Internet content provider About.com from magazine publisher Primedia Inc. for $410 million in cash. Primedia acquired About.com in 2000 in a stock swap valued at $690 million. The Web site About.com offers nearly 500 guides who create sites on thousands of topics from personal finance to consumer electronics. It attracts 22 million unique visitors each month, according to About.com. The Times said it expected the acquisition to add to its earnings in 2007.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, reported a 16.2% increase in profits for its fourth quarter, beating Wall Street expectations. Its earnings for the full year topped $10 billion for the first time. Wal-Mart earned $3.16 billion for the three months ended Jan. 31, up from $2.72 billion a year ago. Wal-Mart's overall revenue rose to $83.02 billion from $75.19 billion a year earlier.

Nordstrom Inc. reported a 34% increase in its quarterly profit, helped by a better-than-expected increase in same-store sales as the upscale department store chain focused on keeping a lid on expenses. The retailer also raised its full-year profit forecast for 2006 above average Wall Street forecasts and said it had record sales during the critical holiday sales period. Earnings for the fiscal fourth quarter ended Jan. 29 increased to $140.0 million, from $104.3 million a year earlier.

Target Corporation, the second-largest U.S. discount retailer, reported quarterly profit rose on 11% sales growth. Profit increased to $825 million in its fiscal fourth quarter from $823 million a year earlier.

Sears, Roebuck and Co. unveiled a midsize, off-mall store format this week that leverages its merger with Kmart Holding Corporation. The first 25 Sears Essentials stores are scheduled to open this spring. They will offer traditional Sears items such as appliances, lawn and garden, tools, electronics, apparel and home fashions along with products found at Kmart, such as health and beauty, pantry, household and paper products, pet supplies and toys. Kenmore, Craftsman and Apostrophe which are Sears brands will be part of the merchandising mix. There is no official word yet on whether Kmart brands such as Martha Stewart Everyday and Thalia Sodi will be included.

Redcats USA will launch two outlet catalogs and companion Web sites. The Chadwick's Outlet Catalog is to mail March 1. However, COBoutlet.com will be active starting today. The catalog and Web site will feature missy apparel and home fashion items. The Brylane Outlet Catalog is to mail in early April. A companion site, BCOutlet.com, opens March 23. The catalog and Web site will offer plus-size apparel for men and women as well as home lifestyle products. The new outlet titles will feature brand-name fashion and home merchandise from all 10 Redcats USA brands at 30% to 80% off original prices. New merchandise will be added to both outlet Web sites daily.

Kintera Inc., a provider of software and services to nonprofits, reported that it partnered with the Association of Fundraising Professionals to provide the group with Internet technology. The company will offer its Kintera Sphere enterprise-level platform to the international nonprofit organization and its more than 170 chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico and East Asia.

The World Monuments Watch was established in 1995 with the announcement of a $5 million commitment over five years, the largest single grant ever made by the American Express Philanthropic Program to the WMF, a non-profit, New York-based international organization dedicated to preserving the world's cultural and architectural heritage. In 2000, the company announced that it would renew its commitment by contributing another $5 million through the year 2005, bringing its total investment in the Watch to $10 million over 10 years.

MasterCard International reported strong performance results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2004, demonstrating positive growth across all regions and in key measures of success in the payments industry. In 2004, cardholders worldwide used 679.5 million MasterCard-branded cards for nearly 16.7 billion transactions, generating gross dollar volume (GDV) of $1.5 trillion, an increase of 10.6 percent over 2003.

Visa USA introduced its small business spending forecast and segmentation analysis, providing a long-range and comprehensive view into the future growth of small business spending in the United States.  This analysis, part of Visa's broader Commercial Consumption Expenditure^TM (CCE) initiative, is the latest in a series of analytical activities to further understand business payment needs. The small business segment - businesses with under $25 million in annual sales - accounts for one third of all expenditures by businesses in the United States.  According to Visa's CCE analysis, non-payroll spending by U.S. small businesses will increase an estimated 5.4 percent this year to $4.7 trillion, and expand further to reach $5.3 trillion in 2008.

The Labor Department reported that a total of 302,000 Americans filed applications for unemployment benefits last week, the lowest level since Oct. 28, 2000. Last week, total claims fell by 2,000, the third straight weekly decline. Analysts had been forecasting an increase of around 12,000, reflecting a predicted bounce up after the declines of 9,000 and 12,000 in the previous two weeks. Analysts said the decline in claims provided further evidence that the labor market is continuing to show improvements with fewer layoffs and more companies deciding to hire new workers. The four-week moving average for unemployment claims dropped last week to 311,750, the lowest level since Nov. 4, 2000.

Wine.com increased sales of several products this Valentine's Day by tracking response to its virtual catalog, e-mails and placement of promotions on its Web site. They aimed to expand beyond simply offering wine as a gift during the holidays; it focused its promotions not only on wine, but also chocolate, flowers, games and other gifts. Valentine's sales were at least 10 to 15 times higher then last year.

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Black Box Corporation reported that it’s mailing a new specialty catalog devoted to wireless networking products and installation services. Black Box markets products, services and technical support for data and voice networks in 141 countries. Its catalog titles include Structured Cabling Solutions, Wired & Wireless and Cabinets & Racks. This past November it introduced a catalog focused on security products. The 176-page Wireless catalog showcases new and existing wireless networking products. It is aimed at IT personnel in businesses of all types and sizes.

Dish Network customers can now shop for Sharper Image products using their remote control. EchoStar Communications Corporation, the parent company of Dish Network, partnered with Sharper Image for what is called America’s first interactive shopping channel. Dish Network viewers with receivers enabled for interactive TV can access an interactive Sharper Image catalog through the Dish Home channel, choose the items they wish to buy, and pay for them with secure credit-card ordering. Currently, select best-selling products are featured on The Sharper Image channel.

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Please join us in welcoming Bill Bittner to ALC as the Vice President of Database Resources. He's responsible for many of the duties that Betsy Whitthohn used to perform, and plans to use his background in direct marketing database design and quantitative analysis to deepen client relationships with DBR and ALC. Bill came to us from Register.com and has held positions in such financial services and direct marketing consulting firms as Western Union, American Express, OgilvyOne Consulting, and Management Science Associates.

ALC just updated its Therapists lists to create the most comprehensive, accurate lists of physical, occupational, and respiratory professional available. Please give us a call at 1-800-ALC-LIST; we’d like to know more about your products and prospects so we can deliver a list for your marketing campaign that’s sure to work for you.

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