Consumer Attitudes & Behavior

After spending more on school supplies and electronics in 2014, parents this year will head into the back-to-school season evaluating what their children really need before spending on new items.

New York -- A new survey reveals the favorite shopping destinations of millenial shoppers and what factors drive their purchases.

Zara, H&M and Urban Outfitters ranked as the favorite stores among millennials, according to a survey conducted by LIM College professors Robert Conrad, MBA and Kenneth M. Kambara, Ph.D. (LIM, based in Manhattan, is focused exclusively on the study of business and fashion.)

Retailers who sell food have seen firsthand the huge shift in consumer behavior toward natural, organic, gluten free and non-GMO products. Offering a view of what’s next in the grocery aisle this week was leading food supplier General Mills.

As part of an investor day to unveil growth strategies, the $18.8 billion company shared details about a broad range of new product introductions that debut this summer and are expected to drive retail sales.

London - Two e-tailers, Amazon.com and Netflix, are the respective number one and two ranked brands in the U.S., according to the mid-year Brand Index from consumer research firm YouGov. Social video platform is the number three brand in the index, meaning the top three is made up of brands that focus on services delivered through the Internet.

New York -- There was good news for retailers in the International Council of Shopping Centers’ annual BTS (Back-to-School) Consumer Spending Survey.

The survey revealed that the share of consumers expecting to spend more this year increased significantly year-over-year to 67%, compared to 50% of shoppers in 2014 and 39% who expected to increase spending in 2013.

Pittsburgh – Retailers wondering which smartphone operating systems they should support with their mobile and omnichannel programs can reach more than half of all users with a single OS.

In the second quarter of 2015, 52% of all smartphone shoppers used iOS 8, according to the Branding Brand Mobile Commerce Index. iOS 8 also generated 56% of all smartphone revenue in second quarter 2015.

Washington, D.C. – Despite all the hype surrounding Apple Pay and other digital wallet solutions, so far consumer response to the digital wallet phenomenon has been one big shrug of the shoulders.

Gallup analysis shows that only 13% of U.S. adults with a smartphone have a digital wallet on their device.

Seattle – Retailers of oversized items like barbecue grills and large-screen TVs may want to consider offering same-day delivery services.

According to a survey of 615 U.S. adults by same-day delivery provider Fleetzen, 25% of respondents said a same-day delivery option would increase their likelihood of a purchase of an oversize item, while another 39% indicated it would give a significant boost to their chances of purchasing an oversized item.