Employer-Paid

President Barack Obama says he wants Congress to act quickly on bipartisan legislation that would extend tax breaks for small business and to help startup businesses raise money. He says he would sign the legislation "right away."

Americans' income rose in December by the most in nine months, a hopeful sign for the economy after a year of weak wage gains. But consumers didn't spend any more than they had in November.

Small businesses added 50,000 new jobs in January; however, they also paid employees less and gave them fewer hours, according to the Small Business Employment Index by Intuit Inc.

According to research from CCMI, an information source for the telecommmunications industry, most Fortune 1000 companies are exploring options to control high wireless bills incurred from international business.

Aiming tax increases at millionaires and companies that ship jobs abroad may help frame the fairness theme of President Barack Obama's re-election campaign, but it's a plan that stands virtually no chance of passing Congress.

Given the poor global economic predictions, weak consumer demand, and continuing corporate uncertainty continue to impact outsourcing demand and consulting growth, according to the KPMG 4Q11 Sourcing Advisory Pulse Survey, which interviewed KPMG field advisers and global business and IT service providers.