Bettinger says the company stumbled with fashion last year, finding itself too far ahead of the trend toward wider tops and tighter-fitting bottoms for women, which started in Europe two years ago.

FORBES: Retailers

Although the initial numbers are small, the trend is worth watching, as some of the pieces of the electric car puzzle are finally fitting together.

FORBES: Electric Cars and the Power Grid: How Are They Coming Together?

Although poorer countries still limit themselves to ad hoc welfare offerings, fitting the spending level to revenues one budget at a time, there is an increasing trend towards entitlements served by statutory institutions that will outlive the budgetary cycle.

ECONOMIST: Asian welfare states