With so many folks paying their bills online, or electronically through an automatic checking account deduction, it's hard to imagine that a good slice of consumers are still paying some of their bills in person.
Consumer Nation
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While 94 percent of the companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index have already reported quarterly earnings, this week remains a key week for the retail industry with 24 retailers reporting earnings—12 of which are S&P 500 components.
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Strong Back-to-School Sales May Make for A Less Jolly Christmas
Posted By: Christina Cheddar Berk
As folks try to use the back-to-school shopping season as a barometer for the Christmas holiday season , one analyst, who was pretty sharp with his forecast for the 2008 holidays, has issued his preliminary read for the 2009 season.
What Grade Are Retailers Getting for Back-To-School?
Posted By: Christina Cheddar Berk
Retailers are showing more signs of stabilization as the back-to-school season enters its final weeks, and that's going to be good news for profits in the sector.
Cash for Cribs? Toys 'R Us Takes Aim at Old Baby Gear
Posted By: Christina Cheddar Berk
The government's "Cash for Clunkers" program has shown that consumers are willing to bite at a good deal. And what's a better deal than trading in old, unwanted items to get a discount on a replacement?
Discount Retailers Take On the Big City
Posted By: Krystina Gustafson
Commercial rents have fallen about 20 to 30 percent around the US, and paired with bargain-seeking consumers, discount retailers can now afford stores in lucrative spots of major metropolitan areas, where they couldn't previously afford the rent.
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Stock Market Has Gotten Ahead of the Consumer: A&P CEO
Posted By: Christina Cheddar Berk
The stock market has gotten ahead of the consumer, according to Eric Claus, president of supermarket operator Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.
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Kids' Menus Don't Budge Despite Obesity Concerns
Posted By: Christina Cheddar Berk
Despite the rising concerns about childhood obesity, restaurant menus for children have not changed in recent years. Mintel Menu Insights has been tracking kids menus from 2005 until present, and are seeing the same foods repeated year after year.
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Dollars for Dishwashers? Appliance Rebates on the Way
Posted By: Christina Cheddar Berk
Rebates for Refrigerators? Dollars for Dishwashers? Funds for Furnaces? The details of an appliance rebate program are still being worked out, but manufacturers hope it will give a boost to consumers and appliance manufacturers alike.
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Computer Sales Expected To Help Back-to-School Spending
Posted By: Cindy Morand
The back-to-school shopping season has begun and although spending is expected to decrease in most categories, industry analysts anticipate seeing growth in PCs and consumer electronics.
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What Shape Economic Recovery? Watch Back-to-School Spending
Posted By: Christina Cheddar Berk
How consumers behave during this year's back-to-school shopping season could give us our first taste of what's to come for the broader economy.
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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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Christina Cheddar Berk is editor of CNBC.com's Consumer Nation and chief trend spotter.
Retail
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Shares of Saks surge amid a report it has hired Goldman Sachs to explore strategic alternatives.
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Target cuts its full-year profit forecast while turning in a weak first quarter with disappointing sales.
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Lowe's reported earnings that missed analysts' expectations on Wednesday, sending shares lower in pre-market trading.