With all the gloom in the global economy, I got to wondering whether there's anything else going on in the world of business. I'm looking for growth because I think that's what will ultimately bring the economy out of the doldrums. Not surprisingly, that growth is coming from technology companies.

The fastest growing companies these days share a common trait -- they help make the lives of consumers easier and more fun. Whether it's navigating in your car, looking for fun restaurants, playing games on your mobile, arranging meetings with your friends, personalizing the reams of songs and videos aroung the Web, or planning a vacation, the fastest growers are the ones that do these things the best. So, in Growth Matters I look at consumer technology companies that point the way to growth trends.