Even though the unemployment rate edged downward in last week's jobs report, an economic recovery is not yet underway, said Olivier Garret, CEO Of investment consulting firm Casey Research.
Consumer Nation
featured
Hummus sales are booming, and Sabra is on a quest to convince Americans to eat even more. Is it the next peanut butter?
» Read MoreMore
Retail Markets With the Most Promise
Posted By: Christina Cheddar Berk
Even retail is bigger in Texas.
Target Hits the City Streets With 'To Go' Gifts
Posted By: Krystina Gustafson
Taking a cue from the recent flood of pop-up stores, discount retailer Target is opening three temporary Target To-Go locations this holiday, catering to busy city-dwellers shopping on a budget.
Are These Holiday Gifts Stupid or Cool?
Posted By: Krystina Gustafson
Is holiday shopping bringing you down? Are you sifting through countless gift ideas trying to find something unique for the person who has everything?
Are Bad Holiday Gifts Ruining the Economy?
Posted By: Robin Knight
Betsie Van der Meer | Stone | Getty Images
Presents in shopping bags in living room
We've all been there, you're unwrapping your presents on a perfect Christmas morning and there it is: the dreaded reindeer sweater from your Great Aunt Mildred.
Most people would just stick it in the back of the closet and forget all about it, but that bad sweater could be at the center of what one man is calling an "orgy of wealth destruction."
Joel Waldfogel, author of Scroogenomics, thinks bad gift giving is the scourge of the holiday season and is cheating consumers out of $25 billion worth of satisfaction.
Bloomingdale's CEO: The Secret No One's Talking About
Posted By: Christina Cheddar Berk
With sales of more discretionary items such as accessories and jewelry picking up, Bloomingdale's CEO Michael Gould is hopeful that it will be a "very good December."
Big Deals Drive Cyber Monday Sales Up 5%
Posted By: Christina Cheddar Berk
Sales were robust on Cyber Monday, as retailers dangled free shipping and other offers in front of bargain-hungry consumers.
Christina Cheddar-Berk: Consumer Nation
Posted By: Christina Cheddar Berk
It wouldn’t have taken a crystal ball last year to predict that consumer spending would be under intense pressure in 2009. But as we look to 2010, there are some conflicting signals about how the coming year will shape up.
Blue Nile CEO: 'We're Having the Best Cyber Monday Ever'
Posted By: Christina Cheddar Berk
Source: bluenile.com
It looks like the holidays will be happy at Blue Nile.
In an interview on CNBC, Blue Nile President and CEO Diane Irvine said the online jewlery retailer is having its "best post-Thanksgiving ever."
"Today looks to be our best Cyber Monday ever," Irvine said. "So we're setting records all of the days of the weekend. We've exceeded our expectations, and I think what you're seeing is that consumers are coming online and seeing the convenience and the value."
(To hear the full interview with Blue Nile CEO Diane Irvine, click here.)
In the days following Thanksgiving, Blue Nile saw an increase in transactions valued at more than $20,000, Irvine said. She added that the biggest single transaction was the purchase of a 5-carat diamond for just under $100,000.
Cyber Monday: The Last Vestige of Dotcom Hype
Posted By: Christina Cheddar Berk
Is Cyber Monday the last vestige of dotcom hype?
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.
-
Christina Cheddar Berk is editor of CNBC.com's Consumer Nation and chief trend spotter.
-
Tom is a Senior Editor and Assignment Desk Manager for CNBC TV. He also writes about the business of beer for CNBC.com.
Retail
-
Hummus sales are booming, and Sabra is on a quest to convince Americans to eat even more. Is it the next peanut butter?
-
From Union Jack booties to "Born to Rule" sleepwear, here's how baby fever can boost the British economy.
-
7-Eleven franchisees are charged with identity theft and money laundering, reports CNBC's Andrea Day. The 7-Eleven owners created a "modern-day plantation system" according to the U.S. Attorney.
Most Popular Video
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 12:01 PM ET
The Federal Reserve won't change course on quantitative easing this week, Steve Weiss of Short Hills Capital says.
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 7:10 AM ETAn airline passenger records a Chinese cargo handler as he tosses boxes of something on to and off of a conveyor belt for shipment. Hopefully, the cargo was packed well.
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 9:33 AM ETPlans to take PC maker Dell private by leveraging the company's balance sheet are misguided, CNBC's Jim Cramer said on "Squawk on the Street" Tuesday, because the company is facing lower margins and an increased competition from rival Hewlett Packard.