Issue #1: Are you better off?

China moves to stem mass layoffs
Chinese companies are told they need permission to fire more than 40 workers, in a sign of worry over rising unemployment.

'Close to 3m UK jobless' by 2010
The CBI says the UK economy will shrink by 1.7% in 2009, with unemployment rising to nearly 3 million by 2010.

Chinese trade surplus hits record
China's trade surplus hits a new record at $35.2bn in October, while separate data showed inflation hit a 17-month low.

Your job: Best ways to avoid a pink slip
Look for unemployment to rise, peaking in the second half of the year. How to make yourself less expendable.

Deflation: The new threat
Forget about inflation. The opposite threat - deflation - is what has policymakers sweating now.