The health of the world's economy continues to deteriorate as insufficient demand, unemployment and the ongoing debt crisis in Europe undermine recovery efforts, results of the ICC-Ifo World Economic Survey revealed.

U.S. import volume in October, measured in twenty-foot-containers, is down 6.8 percent from September and another 4.8 percent from October of last year. This is total of 1,433,446 containers imported.

Trace One has enhanced PL PLM, its product lifecycle-management application for private labels.

Kewill, a vendor of software for global trade and logistics, has released a new version of its freight-forwarding application.

Sageworks Inc. has released a Business Credit Report, to help companies assess the likelihood that a business partner will default on its financial obligations.

In terms of logistics, Africa is one of the most exciting investment opportunities anywhere in the world, according to Sub-Saharan Logistics 2012, a report from Transport Intelligence, or Ti. Its untapped natural resources are vast, and foreign direct investment has poured in as Africans' purchasing power grows.

Vendormate, creator of a vendor-information network that brings together healthcare providers and suppliers, has developed a new online resource called Medzo.

China is evolving from an export-driven manufacturing economy to a more balanced consumer-driven developed economy, and its logistics landscape is under pressure to adapt, according to new research by Jones Lang LaSalle. China's evolution has driven three key trends: the rise of the domestic middle class, rising wages and diminished cost advantages in manufacturing, as well as the rapid development of domestic infrastructure. And these trends are creating long-term opportunities for U.S. companies.

Virgin Atlantic Cargo will begin daily passenger and cargo flights between Mumbai, India and London Heathrow airport, with connections to major U.S. gateways, on Oct. 29.