Maduro, acting president since Chavez's March 5 death, held a double-digit advantage in opinion polls just two weeks ago, but electoral officials said he got just 50.7 percent of the votes to 49.1 percent for Capriles with nearly all ballots counted.

NPR: Chavez Heir Barely Wins; Opposition Rejects Count

Nearly all employer firms in the U.S. are private (with listed companies representing less than 1 percent), so the performance of private manufacturers is a key barometer of the sector as a whole.

FORBES: Private manufacturers growing sales, profitability

Health spending (unlike that of gadgets and snack) happens to be highly concentrated, with the top 1 percent of spenders each year accounting for more than one quarter of all spending.

FORBES: Can Markets Work in Medicine?