Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.trends From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: trends Mon, Jul 13 1992 Date: Mon, 13 Jul 92 05:08:08 EDT Message-ID: 07-13 0000 DECISIONLINE: Trends & Marketing USA TODAY Update July 13, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network POLICE AT BOTH ENDS OF SPECTRUM: The rise of the private security guard is perhaps the most dramatic change in modern law enforcement, with growth far outpacing that of public police departments. "The classical beat cop we think about of the 1940s and 1950s is still here, just replaced by private security," says Ira Lipman, president of Guardsmark Inc., a private security firm. (For more, see special Police package below.) DELINQUENT PARENTS TARGETED: Continuing a nationwide trend aimed at cracking down on parents delinquent in their child support payments, California is building a network designed to help locate these violators. The state has selected Lockheed Information Management Services to develop the Statewide Automated Child Support System. It's expected to increase child support collections by more than $135 million a year. JUNGLE OF GYMS OUT THERE: There's a growing number of gyms for kids. "They're catching on all over the place," says Peg Jordan, editor of American Fitness magazine. Kidsport Fun & Fitness has opened 32 clubs in just three years. Even McDonald's is cashing in, expanding its Leaps & Bounds kids' gym to 15 new sites this year. PADDED BRA RETURNS: Now that the shoulder pads of the eighties have receded to realistic proportions, padding of another kind is on the increase. The BustBooster, a lightly padded push-up bra with removable extra pads, is out. Glamour magazine reports Maidenform Inc., Warnaco, Victoria's Secret, Wacoal and Vanity Fair all report increased demand for padded bras. WOMEN SEWING MORE: In 1987, women spent an average of $450 per year on patterns, fabric and notions. By 1991, the average had risen to $646 per year, and 150 million patterns were sold in 1991, a tenfold increase over 1983 sales. Glamour magazine reports about 40% of 1991 brides wore homemade wedding dresses (60% purchased gowns, for a total of $534 million). PEOPLE TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES: Americans scored 66.5 out of a possible 100 on the recently released Prevention Index, the annual survey of the country's preventive health behaviors conducted by Louis & Harris Associates for Prevention Magazine. This is the highest score in the history of the study and follows an upward trend. The survey began in 1984. MORE WOMEN UNDER STRESS: Preventive magazine reports stress levels continue to rise with more women than men reporting they experience great stress at least several days a week, 37% vs. 27%. Also, the number of women reporting they have Pap smears conducted every other year is up six percentage points since 1983, from 75% to 81%. MERGERS AND AQUISITIONS DOWN: The dollar value of mergers and acquisitions in the first half of this year is down 19% from last year. Securities Data reports there were 2,082 deals worth $56.4 billion so far this year. For the same period in 1991, there were 2,278 deals worth $69.3 billion. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON POLICE: NUMBER OF PRIVATE COPS UP: As recently as the 1960s, the number of private cops was about 300,000. Today there are an estimated 1.2 million private security guards nationwide and the number is likely to top 2 million by 2000. From crime-conscious businesses, to anxious condominium associations, to court administrators trying to control costs, private security companies are increasingly seen as the answer. RIOTS WERE BOON FOR BUSINESS: The Los Angeles riots were a boon for Guardsmark in California, says Lipman. With the average public police rookie commanding a salary better than $30,000 a year against the private guard netting an average of $7.85 an hour, it's all part of a cost-conscious, "fee-for-service" trend, says Bill Zalud, editor of Chicago-based Security. COLLEGES OFFER MORE PROGRAMS: In a related development, Prince Georges County, Md., a suburb of Washington, D.C., is considering a pay-for-service 900 number that will levy a charge of $25 for emergency dispatch, Zalud notes. Colleges are adjusting to the trend, according to the Department of Justice, there were just five colleges offering bachelor's degrees in private law enforcement in 1976; today there are 46. (End of package.) Trends & Marketing Editor: Michele Coleman. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM