Europe is likely to muddle through 2012, providing a boost for retailers and adding to solid economic growth in Australia as it gathers steam after last year’s natural disasters.

Consumers are seeking more communication with retailers through social media for a more personalised shopping experience, according to IBM's Smarter Consumer Survey.

Global spending on consumer electronics should slow down this year, but will still easily top $1 trillion, the Consumer Electronics Association said.

Branding has much to do with how much consumers like you. Facebook usage is also much about who does and doesn't 'like' you. So is it logical to assume that the most 'liked' US retail industry Facebook pages are also the most liked US retail brands? Major retailers would like to believe that Facebook likes are a relevant measure of brand popularity as much as they would like to believe that brand popularity translates into retail sales at some point.

Apple overtook Acer and Dell for the first time in any one quarter to grab the second position behind HP in the Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) PC market by unit shipments, according to a report from IDC.