Consumer Attitudes & Behavior

NEW YORK — The share of private-label brands and products will double to 50% by 2025, thanks to a continued emphasis made by retailers.

In a new report released by Rabobank's Food and Agribusiness Research division, author Sebastiaan Schreijen noted that national brands and smaller, secondary brands (referred to as "A" and "B" brands, respectively) will prompt an intense price competition and therefore will cause the private-label market to become chock-full of higher-quality "B"-brand products at lower prices.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Monday by the Commerce Department showed that consumer spending in the United States rose more than forecast in February as incomes climbed.

Bloomberg News estimated spending would advance 0.5%.

Purchases increased 0.7%, the most since October, after advancing 0.3% the prior month. Incomes increased 0.3%, less than the 0.4% projected.

Two new pricing studies out this past week show Target and Walmart are so close to one another on a basket of goods that shoppers would have a hard time discerning which company is the low-price leader.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy Co. reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Feb. 26 fell 16% to $651 million, compared with $779 million in the year-ago period. However, adjusted results beat Wall Street expectations.

The retailer cited restructuring costs and weak TV and other electronics sales for the performance decline.

A monthly pricing survey by Credit Suisse showed Walmart had the lowest overall basket price in Dallas and Chicago and suggest that where prices head from here is up to Walmart.

New York City -- Almost 80% of respondents in a national survey of moms’ shopping habits said that the recession has permanently altered their shopping habits, inducing overall cuts in spending by purchasing items on sale and using coupons. The survey was conducted by the online shopping site Totsy.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble's Crest Pro-Health portfolio now includes the new Invigorating Clean toothpaste and mouth rinse.

Redwood Shores, Calif. -- A survey released Tuesday by Oracle and Art Technology Group, which Oracle acquired in November 2010, found that mobile commerce is experiencing dramatic growth.