Attitudes: Retailers

ANN ARBOR, Mich. and WASHINGTON — In the latest poll conducted by Thomson Reuters and NPR, it seems that some Americans are concerned with the safety of vaccine use.

CHICAGO — Amid economic uncertainty and low consumer confidence levels, retail CFOs are expecting a 3% increase in total 2011 sales, according to a recent survey by BDO USA.

While the number reflects the study’s most optimistic sales forecast since 2007, it is down from the 4.7% sales increase reported by the Commerce Department in 2010.

WASHINGTON — Retail sales for the month of August were flat, the U.S. Census Bureau disclosed on Wednesday.

Adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, sales totaled $389.5 billion. Compared with the year-ago period, however, sales rose 7.2%. Trade sales edged up slightly by 0.1% from July, as well as 7.5% above August 2010.

CHICAGO — SymphonyIRI Group on Thursday released a brand report highlighting what elements help drive brand selection and brand loyalty.

PARIS — The Consumer Goods Forum released the Global Protocol on Packaging Sustainability, a global measurement system designed to help the consumer packaged goods industry to better assess the relative sustainability of packaging.

RESTON, Va. — About 6.2% of 14 million mobile phone users have scanned a quick response or bar code on their mobile device, according to a new ComScore survey.

Among 14,452 users surveyed during the month of June that have scanned a QR or bar code, 58% of them scanned a code at home, while 39.4% and 24.5% of respondents have scanned codes at a retail store or grocery store, respectively. As far as what they scanned, 49.4% said they scanned a QR or bar code found in a newspaper or magazine, while 35.3% scanned product packaging.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A survey of 1,850 members of the National Community Pharmacists Association released Wednesday has identified two rising problems: 1) pharmacy audits often punish pharmacies severely for trivial issues and 2) because pharmacies are not privy to basic reimbursement methodology prior to signing contracts with health plans, reimbursements are "both lowered arbitrarily and raised belatedly in response to generic drug cost increases."

WASHINGTON — It seems that when given the opportunity, more consumers choose organic food over conventionally produced food, according to the latest poll conducted by Thomson Reuters and NPR.

The Thomson Reuters-NPR Health Poll found that among 3,014 participants interviewed from May 2 to 13, 58% preferred organic food. Additionally, more than two-thirds of consumers ages 35 years and younger, as well as those with a bachelor's degree or higher, preferred organic food (63% and 64%, respectively).