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U.S. retail sales should rise 2.5 percent this year, signaling that store chains have made it through the worst of the downturn as improvements in the housing and job markets bolster shoppers' confidence, a trade group forecast Tuesday.
You cannot predict agricultural economics without taking into account the macro global economic picture. Right now, we are continuing to deleverage, with high unemployment and low growth. Anyone who can't see that is in denial. Anyone who sees growth as better than a "new normal" is in denial. To back up my outlook, I'll quote from Kenneth Rogoff, Carmen Reinhart, and John Hussman.

Fast food restaurants represent one of the largest segments of the food industry with over 200,000 restaurants and $120B in sales in the U.S. alone[1]. Fast food restaurants, also known as quick service restaurants (QSRs), are noted for their short food preparation time. Some of the largest players in this category include international giants like McDonald's and Yum! Brands, national chains such
Europe's retailers are braced for a tough 2010 amid signs a tentative economic recovery has yet to boost consumer spending and fears high unemployment and low wage growth will dampen confidence in the months ahead.
Germany, Europe's biggest economy, posted a surprise fall in November retail sales on Thursday, knocking shares in its largest retailer, Metro AG (Xetra: 725750 - news) , down as much
Cadbury (LSE: CBRY.L - news) shares rose on Thursday on hopes of a rival bid from Hershey Co (NYSE: HSY - news) , but analysts remained doubtful over how the U.S. chocolate maker can finance an offer and outbid Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT - news) .

They pointed out a solo Hershey bid could be extremely challenging as Hershey is only half the size of Cadbury and a big share issue would dilute the co
Up till now, China has not had any coffee-growing industry to speak of. But a report today on Chinese web portal Sohu.com suggests that top players in the global coffee business are eyeing major investments in the region, to realize that potential:

Wang Jinlong, president of Starbucks Greater China, who has recently conducted a study tour on the coffee industry in Yunnan, says Starbucks wi
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