Topic “In the News News” — Exporter Magazine

Close to 9,000 New Zealand firms had their rating downgraded in the first three months of 2010 while 10,500 firms received a rating upgrade, according to research released today by credit reporting agency Dun & Bradstreet. US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke leads an Asian mission for senior executives from 24 American companies to showcase the best of America’s energy, energy efficiency, electricity energy storage, transmission and distribution technologies, according to a UPI report. Growth in private label (or store brand) is approaching 20% of dollar value in the US with this market segment being driven by affluent households, according to FoodandDrinkEurope.com.