Banks Rethink the Branch, But Will Customers Respond?
Some banking execs say brick-and-mortar branches remain the best way to gain and serve customers, despite technological inroads that have left the corner bank a seeming relic.
consumer
Airlines' Merger in Holding Pattern as Judge Weighs Severance
A federal bankruptcy judge defers giving his blessing to the merger of US Airways and American Airlines, as he weighs outgoing American CEO Tom Horton's severance package.
5 Great Credit Cards for Holiday Shopping
When it comes to holiday shopping, not all credit cards are created equal. The best card to choose depends on the kind of shopper you are. But no matter how you do your holiday shopping, there's one credit card strategy to avoid.
4 Types of 'Social Shopper': Which One Are You?
In a digital era defined by sites like Facebook, Foursquare and Groupon, a new breed of consumers has emerged: social shoppers, people increasingly relying on the wisdom of the digital crowd to help them make their purchasing decisions. Sound like someone you know? Read on ...
Weak Economy Is a Boom Time for Financial Scammers
Millions of Americans fall victim to financial scams every year, and since the downturn began, many of those cons have been tailored to lure those suffering the most in our shaky economy: work-at-home schemes, fake mortgage modification services, fraudulent job opportunities and a host of unpleasant others.
Gas Prices Drain U.S. Consumers' Tax-Cut Savings
Americans are earning and spending more, but a lot of the extra money is going down their gas tanks. Gas prices have drained more than half the extra cash Americans are getting this year from a cut in Social Security taxes.
What Climbing Consumer Confidence Means for You
The Consumer Confidence Index jumped far higher than expected in January, and that could have big implications, both for retailers and for your wallet. Here's what you need to know.
How Debt-Settlement Companies Skirt New FTC Rules
The Federal Trade Commission's telemarketing rules aim to protect consumers from debt-settlement companies that charge upfront fees or overpromise results. But some companies already have found ways to get around those rules, consumer groups warn.
The Fed Proposes Cap on Debit-Card Swipe Fees
The Federal Reserve on Thursday proposed a new rule that would dramatically cut the swipe fees that banks charge merchants when customers use debit cards. The move, which stems from a provision in the financial overhaul bill in July, could benefit stores. But banks say it could harm consumers.
Young People's Favorite Brands: M&Ms, Google, Reese's
In the eyes of 8- to 24-year-old consumers, M&Ms are cooler than Google. That's according to a new poll by Harris Interactive, which found that sugary snacks made up four of that age group's top 10 favorite brands.
Daily Blogwatch: Is Google a Monopoly?
Some of the best reads for investors from around the Web, including posts evaluating how consumers spend their money, whether Google could be considered a monopoly and the debate about the Fed's policy on quantitative easing.
GM Vehicles Rise in Consumer Reports' Latest Quality Survey
Although Honda and Toyota remain the benchmark of reliability in the U.S. automobile industry, General Motors has made considerable strides in improving the quality of its cars and trucks, according to the magazine's 2010 Annual New Car Reliability Survey.
Up or Down: 5 Retailing Leaders -- and 5 Laggards
Some merchants adjusted quickly to the "new normal" of penny-pinching shoppers, but others are still struggling with shrinking consumer budgets or headwinds they were fighting before the bottom fell out. Here's a look at the two groups that are going in two different directions.
National Retailers Go Local to Boost the Bottom Line
Knowing customers' likes and dislikes is about as basic as it gets in retailing. But for years, national department stores got it wrong. More concerned with controlling costs, big retailers focused on sameness. Not anymore.