Ringing in the holiday season with consumer sentiment at a 6-month low

Nov 10, 2023
The latest consumer survey from the University of Michigan shows that sentiment dropped for the fourth straight month.
Through lockdowns and supply chain snarls, inflation and interest rate hikes, consumer spending has remained resilient.
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The shortcomings of self-checkout

It's not saving retailers as much money as promised, says Amanda Mull of The Atlantic. And it doesn't always make customers' shopping trips easier.
Big retailers are finding that they often need to increase their staffing at self-checkout areas because of difficulties with the technology.
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How do retailers decide when to raise prices?

Aug 3, 2021
The price of many products, supplies and raw materials has been rising. Retailers must figure out when to pass those costs along to customers.
A shopper checks her receipt in a mall in April 2021.
Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images

The new workflow for plumbers means turning some jobs down

May 20, 2020
The owner of a plumbing company won't serve clients who are ill, and both plumbers and clients must wear face masks.
Connie DePaepe, owner of American Drain Works & Plumbing. DePaepe's rules have changed since the pandemic hit.
(Photo courtesy of Connie DePaepe)

How companies are sizing you up based on your behavior as a customer

Nov 23, 2018
Companies use your "customer lifetime value score," a secret shopper score of sorts, to determine how to treat you.
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The days are numbered for price-matching

May 27, 2016
What's behind the move to end price-matching at Wal-Mart?
Wal-Mart is ending price-matching in 500 of its stores
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