Big data is essential for driving significant cost savings and job creation within the U.S. healthcare sector, potentially saving $300 billion annually and generating 6 million jobs by 2016. It encompasses vast volumes of structured and unstructured data, with characteristics defined by volume, velocity, and variety, impacting industries like retail by enhancing operational margins and marketing effectiveness. Leveraging big data enables predictive modeling and customer segmentation, ultimately leading to improved sales, customer loyalty, and fraud detection.