Content about Consumer behaviour

WASHINGTON — A survey released Thursday by the National Retail Federation found that nearly one-third of tablet owners will use the device to purchase back-to-school items.

According to NRF’s 2011 Back-to-School and College surveys conducted by BIGresearch, consumers with smartphones and tablets will use their devices to research products, redeem coupons, look up store information and even make purchases.

NEW YORK — Inflation-related concerns will prompt back-to-school shoppers to utilize certain shopping tactics, including smartphone and social network use, to save this year.

LOS ANGELES — Back-to-school shopping likely will take place even later this year than in 2010, as consumers hope to score last-minute deals, the latest forecast from PriceGrabber revealed.

PriceGrabber, a part of Experian, found that 95% of consumers are planning to use some sort of money-saving technique when back-to-school shopping, and they plan to start shopping later in 2011 than they did in 2010.

NEW YORK — Consumer confidence recovered somewhat in April, though the impact of rising gasoline prices still is evident, according to data released Tuesday by the Conference Board.

The confidence index hit 65.4 in April, from an upwardly revised 63.8 in March. The reading still is below the 72.0 mark of February.

NEW YORK — The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index reached 70.4 in February, a three-year high from February 2008, thanks to growing optimism about the short-term future.

WASHINGTON — The Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index reached its highest level in eight months as Americans grew more optimistic about the job market.

The index climbed to 60.6 this month, up from 53.3 in December. While that reading surpassed expectations, it still fell short of the 90 level that indicates a healthy consumer mindset.

The January figure was the highest since last May's 62.7. The index has not risen above 90 since the recession began in December 2007.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The healthcare-reform bill promised to dramatically expand coverage for Americans, but healthcare consumer confidence hasn’t necessarily kept up, according to data released Monday by Thomson Reuters.

SAN FRANCISCO — A new analysis indicated that retailers should expect a modest increase in sales despite wavering consumer confidence.

The report, developed by global management consulting firm Kurt Salmon Associates, projected 2.1% to 2.6% growth in personal consumption expenditures for fourth quarter 2010. The analysis also showed spending on durable and nondurable goods will continue to outpace spending on services this holiday season.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. The NPD Group found that 38% of consumers polled in its back-to-school spending intentions survey plan to spend less this year, compared with 44% of respondents a year ago.

Consumers are continuing to put off shopping until the last minute. Half the number of consumers this year (3%) compared with last year (6%) said they have purchased for back-to-school already, NPD reported.