Dollar General Q1 beats Street, on track to open 575 U.S. stores; boosts guidance

The good news -- or bad news, depending on how you look at it -- is that consumer time spent with media continues to expand. The really bad news for the ad industry is that ad-supported media's share continues to decline, in both the U.S. and worldwide. Those are among the findings in the 2024 edition of an annual Global Consumer Media Usage Forecast released this morning by PQ Media. While total weekly time spent with media actually declined 0.4% to 76.69 hours in the U.S., and inched up only 0.3% to 56.15 hours worldwide, PQ forecasts it will rebound again this year and continue expanding for the foreseeable future.

After more than 100 years in business, MIDLAND has grown from a single Midwest location to one of the largest independent paper and packaging distributors in the United States. Headquartered in Wheeling, Illinois, MIDLAND provides value added solutions for the efficient distribution of printing and publication papers, packaging supplies and equipment, and facility supplies. Through experienced recommendations and intimate knowledge of these industries, the company helps clients find the best solution for their needs at the most competitive pricing in today’s ever-changing marketplace. MIDLAND focuses its attention on adding value to paper and packaging programs by using its strong mill relationships and expertise in paper, packaging, design, printing and mailing to help clients exceed their marketing and financial objectives. And when it comes to sustainability, MIDLAND’s commitment is evident in both principle and practice. “More and more, we see the current business climate driving our print and packaging customers to assess their impact on the planet,” says MIDLAND National President David Goldschmidt. “Companies turn to MIDLAND because they want a responsible supplier who conducts business ethically and can help them achieve their corporate sustainability goals.

The move to increase the minimum wage gained significant ground in 2020 on the state level. Twenty-five states will raise the minimum wage in 2021, with 21 of those states enacting the increases on January 1, according to payroll experts at Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. The firm noted that some of the hikes in states such as California, Colorado, Maine, Washington are the result of previously approved incremental increases to reach a specific amount that is considered to be a "living wage." Other states' increases reflect an annual cost-of-living adjustment, which accounts for the changes in states like Alaska, Florida, Minnesota, and Montana.