Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.trends,americast.usa-today.trends From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: trends Fri, Aug 21 1992 Date: Fri, 21 Aug 92 04:08:23 EDT Message-ID: 08-21 0000 DECISIONLINE: Trends & Marketing USA TODAY Update Aug. 21-23, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network FASHION LOOK IS LONG AND LEAN: Just as women were starting to get used to their mini-skirts and A-line dresses, it's time for fashion whiplash. Long, skinny skirts with long jackets are the look for fall - a far cry from short skirts and kicky pleats that filled the stores just this spring. Also, platform shoes are back - to add height and enhance the new pencil-thin images. BERETS, VESTS COMPRISE LOOK: Fashion experts say the list of fall essentials is short. Long jackets with peplum are in. Also, you can expect to see pin stripes and flay flannel; berets; sweater dresses; and vests. The color is brown, replacing black as the new fall neutral. CASTING CALL FOR KIDS: Kids are wanted by Hollywood. Touchstone Pictures has issued a nationwide casting call for an unknown 9- to 12-year-old girl to star opposite Michael J. Fox in "Life With Mikey." Warner Bros. recently used the same method to find the star of its "Dennis the Menace" picture. The "Mikey" tyke must be under 5 feet and able to play a smart, streetwise girl. Call 800-888-0882 for details. MORE BABIES FILL HOSPITALS: July, August and September are the peak months for birthing babies. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 12,100 babies were born every day in September, 1990, compared to a daily average of 11,400 for the rest of the year. FEWER PEOPLE GET MEASLES: Government figures show a let up in the U.S. measles epidemic, but without a sustained immunization campaign a resurgence is likely, experts warn. The Centers for Disease Control said Thursday that reported cases dropped from 27,786 in 1990 to 9,662 in 1991. Measles-related deaths dropped from 89 to 31. But immunizations are not at the needed levels, says Dr. William L. Atkinson, of the CDC. MANY NOT VACCINATED: Vaccinating high-risk groups, such as infants, kids entering grade school and college-age young adults who never received a second shot, has led to a drop in reported measles cases, the Centers of Disease Control reported Thursday. But despite improvements, 80% of last year's cases involved patients who'd never been vaccinated, says the CDC's Dr. William L. Atkinson. EXPECT TO SEE MORE CAMPAIGN ADS: In the next few weeks, the airwaves begin crackling with the post-convention campaign ads that'll make the case for George Bush and Bill Clinton. Creating spots, purchasing air time and selecting markets is a high-stakes political art kept close to the vest by each camp. The object is to control the debate - and at the same time keep your opponent off guard and unprepared. KIDS FALLING BEHIND IN P.E.: Poor diets and sedentary lifestyles can lead to a disturbing trend for high school students. They may be at risk for heart disease, cancer and other chronic ailments in later life. Findings by the Centers for Disease Control, show that 52% of high schoolers surveyed had no P.E. classes, and just 13% ate the recommended five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables. MORTGAGE APPLICATIONS RISING: Mortgage applications, spurred by falling interest rates, jumped 10% from last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association says. Nearly 56% of the applications were for refinancing mortgages. The volume of applications is 126% higher than a year earlier. Last week, 30-year fixed mortgages averaged 7.96%, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. says. One-year adjustable rate mortgages averaged 5.30%. MONEY DRAGGING ECONOMY: A closely watched measure of the money supply rose $9.1 billion, to $3.47 trillion the week of Aug. 10, the Federal Reserve said Thursday. M2 is cash in deposits in checking and savings accounts and money market mutual funds. Slow growth in the money supply is considered a drag on the economy. So far this year, M2 has grown at a 1.5% annual rate, below the Fed's target range of 2.5% to 6.5%. SPOT TRENDS WITH FIGURES: The Statistical Handbook on the American Family is now available from Oryx Press. Statistical information covered ranges from working women, wives and mothers to sexual attitudes, behavior and contraceptive use. Data summaries point to the existence of a strong American family despite cries that the American family has collapsed. 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