consumer goods news stories on Newser

Recession's Silver Lining: We're Content With Less

Harry Kimball — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:44:01 CDT

Americans are embracing the no-frills attitude necessitated by the recession, USA Today reports. One-third say they are spending less and plan to keep up the practice as their “new, normal” way of living, according to a study. A whopping 47% of Americans say they have all they need, another study...

That Cheap Bookshelf Has a Global Cost

Katherine Thompson — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:38:40 CDT

Though you might have hand-crafted antiques handed down from your grandparents, chances are your grandkids aren't getting their mitts on that wood-veneer bookshelf you just schlepped home from IKEA, writes Stephanie Zacharek for Salon. The modern desire for cheap, replaceable goods is a cause and a symptom of a global...

Dow Up 173 on Housing, Retail

Harry Kimball — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:08:52 CDT

Markets rallied today on positive news from the retail and housing sectors, the Wall Street Journal reports. Major builders saw stocks go up as much as 15%, leading some to predict an end to the crisis in the housing market. In retail, meanwhile, companies such as Bed Bath and Beyond...

Economic Crisis Is Too Advanced for Rescue

Katherine Thompson — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:24:01 CDT

September's spike in US unemployment numbers was the latest indication of a faltering economy, but the country's problems certainly aren't limited to layoffs. Unfortunately, the $700 billion bailout plan won't make things much better, analysts tell the Los Angeles Times . From consumer activity to state governments, the economic signs are...

Shopping in US Looks Like the 1970s: Analyst

Caroline Zimmerman — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:01:45 CDT

Retailers and marketers are closely watching American shopping trends, knowing that recession habits can linger for years, the AP reports. Studies show that 63% of Americans have cut down spending by coupon-cutting, biking to work, and buying store brands. They're also buying smaller cars and shopping at discounters. "We are...

EBay Wins Pivotal Tiffany Counterfeit Suit

Dustin Lushing — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:11:41 CDT

A US judge ruled today that eBay had taken sufficient steps to stop the sale of fake Tiffany jewelry, the Wall Street Journal reports. Ruling on a suit filed by the New York-based jeweler, the judge deemed Tiffany responsible for monitoring its trademark. It was a pivotal victory for eBay,...

Consumers Are Quickly Trading Down

Clay Dillow — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:26:06 CDT

As fuel prices and home foreclosures steadily rise, Americans are trading down in everything from automobiles to their lunch options. That's not unusual in an economic downturn, but the speed with which it's happening is, the Wall Street Journal reports. And the flight to the affordable and generic is affecting...

How 'Bout Them Rotten Apples?

Chip Bayers — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:59:59 CST

Apple has been around for almost a quarter of a century, but not all of its products were as ingenious as the iPod. Wired highlights the company's biggest flops. The MessagePad (AKA The Newton): Fashioned to revolutionize personal computing, this PDA was too far ahead of its time for consumers....

Companies Cash In on Food Scare

Heather McPherson — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 18:05:00 CDT

The contaminated-import crisis, set off when potentially dangerous products from China turned up on the shelves of pet stores, supermarkets, and drugstores, has meant bigger profits for clever companies. BusinessWeek looks at several strategies: using only fresh, local ingredients in premium products; finding ingredients from somewhere other than China; and...