PR Newswire Broadcast Minute and Podcast for November 21, 2006

PR Newswire Broadcast Minute and Podcast for November 21, 2006

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MasterCard Predicts Procrastination and Prudence During 2006 Holiday Shopping Season

The thought of heading to the mall right after Thanksgiving is likely to conjure up images of long lines and packed parking lots. Later in the weekend, however, may actually be one of the least hectic times to shop before the holidays, according to a report issued today by MasterCard Worldwide.

The MasterCard Holiday Shopping Insights report found that nearly three out of four consumers think Thanksgiving weekend is the busiest time for holiday shopping. However, information from billions of payment card transactions over the past several years indicates that it is unlikely to be the case. Last year, for example, "Black Friday" did not even rank in the top five busiest holiday shopping days, while the Sunday following Thanksgiving has been the least busy day of the holiday shopping season for the past two years.

Full story at: http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=3345035

Online Holiday Shopping Will Peak on Monday, December 18th

CyberSource Corporation predicts that December 18th will be the biggest online shopping day of 2006. The estimate is based on the company's analysis of six years of historical transaction volumes and the number of shipping days remaining before December 25th.

The company has been tracking peak day volumes for many years. A rule of thumb has emerged about holiday peak shopping days: they typically happen on the Monday occurring closest to Christmas where there is at least a week available for shipping. CyperSource expects that to be the case this year- Monday, December 18th. CyberMonday, the Monday after Thanksgiving, is a good eCommerce shopping day, but beyond that it's just hype. It represents no sort of sales plateau. If anything, it's about the halfway mark for holiday sales.

Full story at: http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=3345014

Groundbreaking Initiative Seeks $1 Billion for Gulf Coast Rebuilding

Major American corporations have announced the one billion dollar Gulf Coast Rebuilding Challenge. It's an effort to channel long-term, private sector funding to the Gulf Coast to promote rebuilding in the storm ravaged region.

Participants hope to channel at least one billion dollars into the region over the next five years.

Executives from Bank of America, General Motors, Home Depot, Fannie Mae, Microsoft, National Community Investment Fund, and The First American Corporation joined officials from the Office of the Federal Coordinator of Gulf Coast Rebuilding, banking association leaders and New Orleans business leaders in announcing the program.

Full story at: http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=3344995

Stephen Colbert to Establish the World's First 'Stephen Colbert Museum and Gift Shop' in Alabama's Colbert County

Stephen Colbert is giving back to The Nation. He's decided to help revitalize one of America's depressed communities by offering them the opportunity to house the "Stephen Colbert Museum and Gift Shop." This multi- part celebration will air on Comedy Central's Emmy-nominated "The Colbert Report" during the week of November 27th.

Colbert has chosen rural Tuscumbia, population nine-thousand, in Alabama's Colbert County as the location for the "Stephen Colbert Museum and Gift Shop." He is convinced that it will provide a "can't-miss" economic jolt for the community.

The "Stephen Colbert Museum and Gift Shop" is the world's first museum entirely devoted to a celebration of Stephen Colbert.

Full story at: http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=3345365

The PR Newswire Broadcast Minute is available by email at no charge to members of the media who sign up for PR Newswire for Journalists, http://www.prnewswire.com/media . For more information, contact Rob Fisher at 408-365-8793 or email rob.fisher@prnewswire.com .

PRNewswire -- Nov. 21

Source: PR Newswire

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