The bottom line

Working families continue to struggle

The ranks of the “working poor” are growing even as the recovering economy creates more jobs. Nearly a third of working families earn less than twice the poverty threshold—that comes to $45,622 for a family of four—and have to struggle to pay for basic needs.

The Washington Post

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The least-trusted industries

A new poll found that financial services and banks were the “least-trusted industries” of 2012. Only 46 percent of Americans said they trusted the financial services industry, but that’s an improvement over 2011, when only 25 percent of survey takers said they trusted bankers and financiers.

Los Angeles Times

The bestselling vehicles

The hybrid Toyota Prius was the bestselling car in California last year, surpassing the Honda Civic for the first time. The bestselling vehicle nationwide is Ford’s F-series pickup truck.

USA Today

Mobil device use triples

The use of mobile devices has tripled since 2009, largely thanks to mobile apps. U.S. smartphone owners are estimated to spend an average of 127 minutes a day using mobile apps.

BusinessInsider.com

Global unemployment among the young

Almost 74 million young people are unemployed globally, and the U.N. expects another half million next year. More than a third of young people without jobs today have been without work for more than six months, leading many discouraged youths to leave the labor market altogether.

The Globe and Mail (Canada)

Vanishing sick day benefits

Almost a third of the nation’s workers can’t take sick days when they fall ill. While 80 percent of full-time employees get paid sick days, only 25 percent of part-timers do.

CNNMoney.com