consumer trends

Economy takes a baby step forward

Albany, Ga – Retail sales have increased slightly. It may not sound like much, but retail sales rose about half percent in August, and that's the best gain in five months, despite the fact that... more »

Jump in retail sales sends stock futures off lows

New York, NY — Stock futures moved off their morning lows, but remain mixed Tuesday, after another report signaled modest economic growth. The dollar hit a new 15-year low against Japan's yen and Treasury prices... more »

Retail sales jump the most in five months

Retail sales in August experienced the biggest jump in five months, in an encouraging sign that the economy is slowly regaining its footing.The Commerce Department reported that purchases were up 0.4 percent from July to... more »

Fed survey says New England companies generally upbeat

Boston, MA - The New England economy fared better than the nation as a whole in recent weeks, as businesses in several of the region's key industries reported "upbeat" results, according to a Federal Reserve... more »

How to get frugal consumers spending again

For much of the past decade, many Australian businesses have relied on a simple idea to fuel growth – consumers love buying new stuff. But right around the world, there are signs that this is... more »

Summer Forecast

Beauty in Butterflies Butterflies provide the newest images seen on many products this season. Imagined in free flight, butterflies provide a particularly emblematic image for carefree abandon and they incorporate many colors in their wing... more »

Trending Up Summer 2010

ArtecnicaBright Times are pop-out votive candleholders that emerge from lively patterned metal disks with a pull of a finger. Candle light gets converted into elaborate shadows. Fully expanded, Bright Times can also be used as... more »

Tax holiday leaves retailers smiling

By the time retailers closed their doors Sunday, many were proclaiming the state's sales tax holiday a success, with stories of busy cash registers and filled parking lots — but there were few numbers.Businesses were... more »