Consumer Attitudes & Behavior

HERSHEY, Pa. and SAN FRANCISCO — The Hershey Company recently partnered with the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Calif. to provide students with a hands-on package-design opportunity. Students were asked to create a customized heart box design for Hershey's Pot of Gold chocolates to help give the collection a contemporary, fresh look for the 2013 Valentine's Day season.

LOS ANGELES — Nearly half of consumers polled in the latest PriceGrabber survey respondents said that retailers are serving up better back-to-school promotions this year, compared with 2011.

New York -- The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index, released on Wednesday, decreased slightly in July, marking the first decline since February 2012. 

The Index tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending.

When the days grow shorter and the air starts to turn chilly, retail companies prepare for their hottest time of year. As they get ready for the holiday season, retailers will do well to keep three additional factors in mind:

u Adjust for the presidential election. Typically, retailers market heavily in October and early November to drive store foot traffic as the holidays begin. Early marketing efforts, however, will not go as far this holiday season.

Purchase, N.Y. -- A SpendingPulse report Tuesday by MasterCard Advisors, in partnership with Wells Fargo, found that July spending at small retailers slowed to 6% year over year. 

This was lower than June’s small retailer growth rate of 8%. The July report also found that with or without food service and gasoline sales, July’s small business growth was the lowest for the past 12 months.

Washington, D.C. -- Fueled by strength from department stores, electronics and the automobile sector, retail sales advanced 0.8% in July, the first gain in four months, according to a report released Tuesday by the Commerce Dept.

The bigger-than-expected increase followed a 0.7% decline in June that was weaker than first reported. Bloomberg forecast a 0.3% rise in July. The results have buoyed feelings overall that the economy may be improving, albeit at a moderate pace.

New York -- A report released Tuesday by Capital Business Credit found that, overall, importers and manufacturers who sell to America's major retailers are preparing for a surprisingly stronger winter shopping season than expected.

According to the quarterly "Global Retail Manufacturers and Importers Survey," 77% of importers of retail goods believe the fall/winter season will be the same or stronger than last year.

Washington, D.C. -- Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 6.3% in August, compared with the same month last year, and 2012 should show an increase of 4.8% over last year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released Monday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

RESTON, Va. — U.S. online retail recorded its eleventh consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, according to ComScore.

U.S. online retail spending reached $43.2 billion for the second quarter, up 15% over a year ago, according to ComScore.

PLANO, Texas — PepsiCo's Frito-Lay North America has launched of a gluten-free recipe section on its corporate website (www.fritolay.com) to help make snacking easier and more enjoyable for consumers with Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivities. The new recipe section on the company's website now features gluten free recipes that can be paired or made with Frito-Lay's gluten free snacks, such as Lay's Classic potato chips, Fritos Original corn chips and Tostitos Scoops! tortilla chips.