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Consumer Nation

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  Thursday, 17 Dec 2009 | 3:00 PM ET

Pepsi's Gamble: Sitting on Sidelines at the Super Bowl

In a daring move, PepsiCo is planning to sit on the sidelines during Super Bowl XLIV, ending a 23-year streak of advertising during the big game.

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  Thursday, 17 Dec 2009 | 11:49 AM ET

Jewelry Sales Regain Some of Their Sparkle

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Although the highly discretionary jewelry market was one of the hardest hit areas in the retail sector last holiday, jewelry stores have an edge over traditional retailers this year, as they look to improve their margins by easing up on discounting and offering more items at consumer-friendly prices.

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  Wednesday, 16 Dec 2009 | 2:50 PM ET

With Restaurants Yet to Recover, Panera Stands Out

The economic downturn has dealt a pretty harsh blow to the restaurant industry, with both the total number of diners and the amount each customer spends declining.

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  Tuesday, 15 Dec 2009 | 11:04 AM ET

Six Ways Retailers Will Trick You To Spend More This Holiday

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Chances are your wife doesn't need a matching pair of slippers to go with the pajama set you bought her this holiday.

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  Friday, 11 Dec 2009 | 3:48 PM ET

More Americans To Put Spending on a Diet Next Year

Making a New Year's resolution this year?

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  Friday, 11 Dec 2009 | 11:22 AM ET

Most-Downloaded Christmas Songs

Most-Downloaded Christmas Songs

Photo: Getty Images
Radio stations are playing Christmas songs seemingly nonstop, but which ones are consumers actually buying? Since digital downloading is now the most popular way to buy an individual song, we took a look at sales compiled by media measurement company BigChampagne from Apple’s iTunes store. The digital store accounts for 69 percent of the downloaded music market, according to market research group NPD Group. The top ten-list turned out to be a mix of classics and fresh remakes from current artist

Radio stations are playing Christmas songs seemingly nonstop, but which ones are consumers actually buying?

Since digital downloading has become one of the more popular ways to buy an individual song, we took a look at sales compiled by media measurement company BigChampagne from Apple’s iTunes store. The digital store accounts for 69 percent of the downloaded music market, according to market research group NPD Group.

The top ten-list turned out to be a mix of classics and fresh remakes from current artists. Check out the top -ten songs for the week ending Dec. 2, 2009. (Apple does not release volume data.)

Source: BigChampagne

Posted Dec. 11, 2009

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  Thursday, 10 Dec 2009 | 5:19 PM ET

As Most Franchises Struggle, a Handful Set Themselves Apart

Recessions tend to be a boom time for franchising, as the unemployed unleash their entrepreneurial spirit and start their own businesses. But the depth of this recession and a lack of credit has the number of franchised businesses shrinking this year.

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  Thursday, 10 Dec 2009 | 12:55 PM ET

A Profitable Holiday for Retailers, Then What?

With tight controls on inventory and expenses, retailers are likely to have a profitable holiday season, said Allen Questrom, the former chairman and CEO of JC Penney.

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  Thursday, 10 Dec 2009 | 8:06 AM ET

'Tis the Season for $10 Gifts

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There's no room for coal in your stocking this year.

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  Thursday, 10 Dec 2009 | 8:02 AM ET

Holiday Gifts Under $10 - 2009

The Year of the $10 Gift

Posted 9 Dec 2009
Price wars and saavy retailers ready to compete on price mean lots of great gifts under $10. Discount retailers such as Target and Wal-Mart have battled over who has the lowest prices on toys, books and DVDs, but this year's deals extend beyond discount stores and include items in home goods, beauty, apparel and technology.“Stores and shoppers were caught off guard last year,” said Ellen Davis, vice president of the National Retail Federation. “This year, retailers really had time on their side

Price wars and saavy retailers ready to compete on price mean lots of great gifts under $10. Discount retailers such as Target and Wal-Mart have battled over who has the lowest prices on toys, books and DVDs, but this year's deals extend beyond discount stores and include items in home goods, beauty, apparel and technology.

"Stores and shoppers were caught off guard last year," said Ellen Davis, vice president of the National Retail Federation. "This year, retailers really had time on their side to plan ahead. Many of them ordered less inventory, [and] they looked for ways all year long to lower their costs so they could pass these savings along to their customers."

Here are some great gifts for men, women and kids that won’t drain your bank account.

By Krystina Gustafson

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About Consumer Nation

From the products to the pitches to the people who buy them, we are a Consumer Nation. This blog focuses on all things consumer, taking the pulse of the attitudes that shape purchasing decisions, and providing insights that will help keep marketers, entrepreneurs and investors up-to-date on where trends are heading.

 

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