Rising Consumer Demand Boosts Organic Industry Clout
The organic food industry is gaining clout on Capitol Hill, but it isn't going over well with everyone in Congress.
consumers
Few Small SUVs Perform Well in Latest Crash Tests
Only two of 13 small SUVs performed well in front-end crash tests done by an insurance industry group, with several popular models faring poorly in the evaluations.
Consumer Sentiment Wanes in April on Job, Money Woes
U.S. consumer sentiment eased in April as Americans remained concerned about their employment and financial prospects, a survey released Friday showed.
Drop in Retail Sales a Worrying Sign for the Economy
U.S. retail sales contracted in March for the second time in three months, a sign the American economy may have stumbled at the end of the first quarter.
U.S. Retailers Report Modest Bump in March Sales
Retailers report a key revenue figure rose slightly in March, as shoppers held back on spending because of the cold weather across the nation and economic worries.
U.S. Consumer Spending Rose 0.8 Percent in September
Americans increased their spending in September at twice the rate that their income grew, a sign of confidence in the economy. Still, consumers made up the difference by saving less for a third straight month, a troubling trend.
Do You Really Want Walmart on Your Facebook Wall?
Shopping at Walmart is your guilty pleasure, but would you share with your Facebook friends which store in the chain is your very favorite? The world's biggest retailer hopes you will, and it's launching more than 3,500 store-specific Facebook pages to connect shoppers with what's happening in their local aisles.
Coffee Still Reigns as U.S. Java King
Despite the specialty-coffee craze for lattes, cappuccinos and other blended and frozen drinks, most consumers still get their caffeine fix from a regular cup of coffee, according to a new survey by Technomic.
Fed Leaves Rates Alone, Consumers Keep Status Quo
The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it would leave interest rates unchanged -- for now. For consumers, that means a holding pattern for the near term, with little impact on borrowing, great rates for mortgages, and no hikes for credit cards. By end of summer, that may change.
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.
New Website Could Be a Nightmare for Consumer Products Companies
A database of consumer product information and recalls sounds like a great idea -- but the feature that allows people to submit comments about unsafe products could be a nightmare for consumer products manufacturers.