INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. — Price trumps sales and special deals, customer service and convenience as a factor in deciding where to shop for the majority of U.S. consumers, according to a survey by NPD.

NPD's the Economy Tracker, a monthly monitor of consumer sentiment about the economy and spending, found that in its most recent survey, 85% of U.S. consumers said that price will be an extremely important/important factor in deciding where to shop in the near future, 10% more than those who feel sales and special deals are extremely important/important.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens unveiled the results of research, conducted by the drug store chain, that demonstrated how its approach to community pharmacy ultimately helped improve outcomes through cost savings, pharmacist-led face-to-face patient counseling and specialized services for disease management.

New research results, presented by Walgreens at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy's 24th Annual Meeting and Expo last week in San Francisco, included:

WASHINGTON — If NRF's predictions come true, moms will be in for an especially good Mother's Day this year. According to NRF’s 2012 Mother’s Day consumer spending survey conducted by BIGinsight, the average person celebrating the holiday is expected to spend $152.52 on gifts, up from $140.73 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $18.6 billion.

NEW YORK — A new Market Track report highlighted what categories were most promoted by drug stores during this past Easter season.

According to the new report, drug stores shifted from promoting toys and games and boosted candy promotions. Market Track said "since candy is one of the central areas of focus around the event, drug stores [were] hoping to drive traffic with the additional promotional emphasis."

DEERFIELD, Ill. — It seems that many U.S. adults are unaware of what inoculations are government-recommended vaccinations, while more than half are not diligent about regular checkups with their primary care physician, according to a Walgreens survey.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. organic industry grew by nearly 10% to $31.5 billion in 2011, according to the Organic Trade Association's 2012 organic industry survey.

The OTA found that the easing of the recession, consumer price inflation due to input price increases and consumers' increasing desire for convenience products were all factors that elevated growth for the year.

ATLANTA — Despite achieving measles elimination in 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in its "Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report" that a total of 222 measles cases and 17 measles outbreaks were reported to the CDC last year, compared with a median of 60 cases and four outbreaks reported annually during the 2001-2010 period.

In the United States, the incidence of measles has reached a 15-year high, the CDC said.

NEW YORK — According to the latest numbers, the country's economy is slowly growing, while unemployment has been slowly declining. But while growth has been somewhat less than stellar, 10 industries have outpaced the rest of the economy, including generic drugs.