Washington, DC - In 2018 (2017:Q4 to 2018:Q4), the U.S. economy grew at a rapid rate of 3.1 percent, the fastest pace for any calendar year since 2005, with output rising by $560 billion over the four quarters of the year. For the second consecutive year, economic growth precisely matched or narrowly exceeded the Administration’s own forecast, outperforming consensus forecasts in the process. Gross private domestic investment, just 17 percent of GDP at the start of the year, accounted for 36 percent of the growth in real GDP in 2018.  Real investment in intellectual property products, up 10.8 percent, and grew at its fastest pace since 1999.

Washington, DC - The Federal Trade Commission today announced its first case challenging a marketer’s use of fake paid reviews on an independent retail website. In settling the agency’s complaint, Cure Encapsulations, Inc. and its owner, Naftula Jacobowitz, resolved allegations that they made false and unsubstantiated claims for their garcinia cambogia weight-loss supplement and that they paid a third-party website to write and post fake reviews on Amazon.com.

Washington, DC - Network connected medical devices, like wireless infusion pumps, make patient care more efficient and effective. Ensuring these devices are protected from cybersecurity threats is a top priority for the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE). The NCCoE produced a video illustrating how a “Defense In Depth” posture can help mitigate cybersecurity risks of connected medical devices.

Boston, Massachusetts - Sailors assigned to USS Constitution will participate in a Navy Office of Community Outreach Navy Week in Mobile, Alabama February 27-March 4.

Washington, DC - Imagine this: your 16-year-old son asks to borrow the family car for an evening out with his friends. You hand him the keys, reminding him not to speed and about his curfew before midnight. 12:15 a.m. comes and goes … 12:30 passes also … 1:00 arrives and still no word from him. Texts don’t get returned and phone calls go straight to voicemail. “Where is he?” you wonder. Your mind vacillates between anger at a violated curfew and fear he’s stuck on the side of the road–injured, or worse…

Washington, DC - The Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition announced the creation of a task force dedicated to monitoring competition in U.S. technology markets, investigating any potential anticompetitive conduct in those markets, and taking enforcement actions when warranted.