PR Newswire Broadcast Minute for Friday April 8, 2005

PR Newswire Broadcast Minute for Friday April 8, 2005

59% of Americans Plan to Spend Their Tax Refunds on Everyday Purchases or Make Bill Payments, According to the Cambridge Consumer Credit Index

Nearly six out of ten Americans who have received or anticipate a tax refund this year plan to spend it on everyday purchases or make bill payments, down from 68 percent in 2004, according to the Cambridge Consumer Credit Index. Of those surveyed, 31 percent, up from 27 percent in 2004, plan to save their refunds in a bank account or invest the money in stocks, bonds or mutual funds. This year, 69 percent of Americans expect to receive a tax refund, while 21 percent will owe money and 10 percent will not be paying any taxes.

Full story at: http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=2916711

PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R) Portable) Sells More Than a Half Million Units in Its First Two Days and Generates Over $150 Million In First Week Sales Setting New Industry Benchmark

Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced that the first week sales of the P-S-P (PlayStation Portable) handheld entertainment system generated more than 150 million dollars at North American retailers, outpacing the launch week sales for any other product in the space. Additionally, demand drove the sell through of over 500-thousand P-S-P Value Packs in the first two days alone -- an unprecedented number further validating P-S-P as the most anticipated product of 2005 and an industry altering force -- and remained strong throughout the first week. Making the 150 million dollar mark all the more spectacular, P-S-P sales were achieved during a traditionally slower non- holiday season launch, and during a period when many retailers were closed for Easter.

Full story at: http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=2917101

64th Annual Peabody Awards Winners Announced

Full story at: http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=2916723

Mark Twain's 1835 Martin Guitar Valued at Over $15 million

Full story at: http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=2917185

The PR Newswire Broadcast Minute is available by email at no charge to members of the media who sign up for PR Newswire for Journalists ( http://www.prnewswire.com/media ). For more information, contact Rob Fisher at 408-365-8793 or email rob.fisher@prnewswire.com .

PRNewswire -- April 8

Source: PR Newswire

------- Profile: Ent