Hoping to increase sales and traffic in their restaurants, fast-food and fast-casual operators are cranking up the menu innovation to produce items that stray from the gastronomic norm.
The great American road trip is back, and that could be good news for Choice Hotels International, which franchises value hotel chains like Comfort Inn. We talked to CEO Steve Joyce, who says he sees signs of stabilization in his niche of the travel industry.
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Even with some grease from economic stimulus dollars, consumers remained hesitant to spend in May—and aren't likely to get the urge anytime soon.
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Has the economic crisis actually been a good thing for your retirement savings? If you asked this question, most people, still reeling from the hit their 401(k)'s took from during the market's dive, would think you were nuts. But every cloud has a silver lining, and there is at least one potential plus-side to what we've been though over the past year.
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Amid all the steps the government has taken to shore up the banking system, a recent proposal by the Obama administration to require lenders to retain a stake in securitized loans is a "tremendous game-changer," says real estate mogul Richard LeFrak.
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Hertz Global Holdings is making a big bet on the consumer. In an interview on CNBC, Hertz CEO Mark Frissora says he's "literally scrambling to buy as many cars" as he can to ramp up for a rebound in demand.
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The "endless salad and soup" deals remain popular items at Darden Restaurants, but CEO Clarence Otis is more concerned about whether consumers continue to skip dessert or go easy on the cocktails.
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The use of digital coupons is on the rise. Is this a sign of a more stressed consumer or are there other factors at play. Perhaps, it's both, according to Steven Boal, CEO of the largest digital coupon provider Coupons.com.
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The National Retail Federation provides fresh evidence that consumers are changing their behavior to cope with rising gasoline prices. A new survey finds consumers may start adjusting their plans if prices at the pump rise above $2.75 a gallon.
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So tell me, who doesn't like to eat the chocolate chip cookie batter before it's baked? But some folks are learning the hard way that it's not a great idea. And Nestle is paying the price.
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Consumers may be willing to start spending again soon, but persistent gas prices and a rising unemployment rate threaten consumer confidence.
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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.
Maxim Group upgraded shares of JC Penney to buy and slapping a $27 price target on the stock. Rick Snyder, Maxim Group and William Frohnhoefer, BTIG, discuss.