The Week by the Numbers: September 29-October 5, 2013
By Matt Phifer
1 – Apple was ranked the #1 Most Valuable Brand in the World
Interbrand, a brand consultancy firm, which has been releasing its Best Global Brands report since 2000, named Apple the most valuable brand in the world. The previous leader, Coca-Cola, dropped to third on the list. It is the first time in the list’s history that Coca-Cola has not been ranked first. The report estimates Apple’s brand value at $98.3 billion and Coca-Cola’s at $79.2 billion.
800,000 – Federal Employees furloughed because of the Government Shutdown
About 800,000 federal workers were furloughed starting on October 1 as the federal government was partially shutdown. Republican and Democratic members of Congress could not agree on a spending bill as Congressional Republicans attempted to defund the Affordable Care Act.
$1 Million – Dropped out of an Airplane over Bolivia
Bolivian anti-drug police recovered a bag thrown from an airplane containing $1 million in cash, all U.S. currency. The money was thrown out of a plane by suspected members of a drug trafficking gang. The money was possibly going to be used to build a cocaine production center or set up a fake commercial enterprise in Bolivia.