Consumer Analytics

SEATTLE — Amazon.com announced that it supports the federal bill introduced this morning by United States Senators Enzi, Durbin, and Alexander, that would create a constitutional framework for collecting sales tax online.

New York City -- The Conference Board reported Wednesday that U.S. households are expected to spend an average of $497 on gifts this holiday season. Just 7% of consumers said they plan to spend more on holiday gifts this year, while approximately 40% plan on spending less than last year.

Reston, Va. -- Online retail spending reached $36.3 billion for the third quarter of 2911, up 13% versus year ago, according to comScore. This growth rate represented the eighth consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth rates.

New York City -- U.S. households are expected to spend an average of $497 on gifts this holiday season, The Conference Board reported. Only 7% of consumers said they plan to spend more on holiday gifts this year, while approximately 49% plan on spending less than last year.

The survey of holiday gift spending intentions, based on a probability-design random sample, is conducted for The Conference Board by Nielsen. It was conducted in October. 

Palo Alto, Calif. -- Shopkick, the location-based shopping app, announced that Old Navy has joined its partner alliance, with Shopkick walk-in rewards to be live in all of Old Navy's nearly 1,000 U.S. locations. To celebrate, Old Navy will offer $10 off of a $40 purchase plus 150 Shopkick reward points for the partnership's first weekend (Nov. 10 – Nov. 13), available exclusively through the Shopkick app.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart has launched new applications for the iPhone and iPad designed to give its customers tools to plan their weekly shopping trips, as well as a new way to access Walmart both in-store and online.
 

Cincinnati -- Bashas’ Family of Stores, which operates than 120 supermarkets throughout Arizona, will work with KSS Retail to model, measure and implement pricing strategies for its Bashas’ and Food City banners.

“Our goal is to provide our customers with a superior shopping experience,” said Robert Ortiz, Bashas’ VP sales and marketing. “Working with KSS Retail will give us the ability to better understand our customers and what’s most important to them.”
 

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — A regional supermarket chain is looking to enhance its customers' shopping experience with the introduction of a new mobile application.

Big Y said that its mobile app — powered by mobile commerce platform provider AisleBuyer's mShop, which allows shoppers to scan barcodes to view and compare product and nutrition information, access customer reviews and receive personalized coupons and offers — is designed to deliver enhanced customer service and engagement.

Target reported a 3.3% same-store sales increase for October and a similar figure could be in order for November as the company again provided guidance calling for a low-to-mid single-digit increase.

Economists may be feeling good after a government report that showed third-quarter GDP grew at 2.5%, but try telling millions of Americans who shop at Walmart stores at 12:01 a.m. on the first of the month that the nation is no longer in a recession.