Washington, D.C.

Free software makes inventory simple

Did you get a great new digital camera as a gift this year? Use it to make a home inventory to help take stock of losses in a disaster and cut insurance claim processing time, suggests the nation’s insurance industry research arm.

The Insurance Information Institute this month added an incentive for homeowners and renters to take that advice: an offer to make inventorying less tedious.

The institute’s Web site, www.iii.org, provides free downloadable software for performing an inventory, said spokeswoman Carolyn Gorman. The software leads users through each room, coaching on which items to photograph and how to record prices paid.

Washington, D.C.

The week ahead

Today

Most government offices and businesses are open.

• Preliminary numbers on holiday retail sales released by some shopping centers and credit card companies.

Tuesday

Economic indicators: November existing home sales, December consumer confidence.

Friday

New Year’s Eve. Government offices and many nonretail businesses are closed.

Saturday

New Year’s Day.

• Global textile quotas expire.