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Attitudes: Retailers

  • Only time will tell what gas prices will do to retailers

    WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Gas prices are one of the American economy’s biggest Achilles’ heels, thanks to the high percentage of Americans who depend on automobiles for travel. Thus, retailers have good reason to feel uneasy when gas prices start to rise, and it makes sense that those operating gas stations would offer discounts on fuel as a way to entice customers to their stores.

  • PLMA reports jump in 2010 private-label sales

    NEW YORK — Private-label sales across all three major retail channels reached new heights in 2010, according to the Private Label Manufacturers Association.

  • Consumer spending continues to take a hit, Deloitte Consumer Spending Index finds

    NEW YORK — Rising unemployment claims, coupled with rising food and energy prices, prompted a decline in consumer spending outlook for May, according to Deloitte.

    The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index, which is comprised of four components — tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices — fell to 2.66%, from an upwardly revised gain of 3.29% a month ago.

  • New Consumer Reports survey sheds light on poor customer service

    YONKERS, N.Y. — As evidenced by the 10% upswing in Better Business Bureau complaints over 2009, Consumer Reports will be sharing its survey around a consumer outcry of poor customer service in its July 2011 issue.

  • Looming gas prices actually could help retailers

    WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — To say that the impact of high prices at the pump this year is not as bad as it was in 2008 may be a testament to just how bad it was in 2008. As long as the price-per-gallon hovers above or below that magical $4, it’s still plenty bad, and there still are plenty of people who are changing shopping behaviors because of it.

  • 'Get what you pay for?' You bet

    WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — It’s kind of refreshing to find that the old adage “you get what you pay for” still holds true.

    (THE NEWS: Shoppers would spend more for good customer service, survey finds. For the full story, click here)

  • Shoppers would spend more for good customer service, survey finds

    NEW YORK — Good customer service sells, according to a new study conducted by American Express.

  • Consumer confidence up despite rising gas prices

    NEW YORK — Consumer confidence recovered somewhat in April, though the impact of rising gasoline prices still is evident, according to data released Tuesday by the Conference Board.

    The confidence index hit 65.4 in April, from an upwardly revised 63.8 in March. The reading still is below the 72.0 mark of February.

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