Daphne Garland-McLean
Welcome to Furniture/Today's Research blog. Each week we'll take a look at interesting research data related to the home furnishings industry. Our focus for the week may come from research we have conducted ourselves or it might be something we've come across and just want to share. We hope you'll use this space too, to share your thoughts or to weigh in with what you think about the topic under discussion.
Three members of Furniture/Today's Research team, Research Manager Dana French and Research Specialists Judi Fulbright and Daphne Garland-McLean, will be sharing this forum, each bringing our own unique perspective. We look forward to hearing from you!
Research SaysLink This | Email This | Comments (0) ‘Tis the season to be optimisticThe holiday season is upon us and a new survey from American Express reveals that 53% of consumers have intentions on spending more or the same on holiday gifts this year compared to a year ago. This is welcome news for economy and retailers. According to Deloitte’s 24th Annual Holiday Survey , 54% of Americans expect the economy to improve in the upcoming year. And, this has... MoreLink This | Email This | Comments (2) What’s your holiday season forecast?Unemployment levels - currently at 9.8% - restricted credit availability and the uncertainty over job security and income are all factors that will have consumers treading lightly with regards to spending this holiday season. And though, Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, declared last month that the recession is very likely over, he did caution that the economy will still feel weak for... MoreLink This | Email This | Comments (0) Home sales increase optimismThough overall consumer spending is still lagging, the recent reports of increased home sales are giving economic analysts reason to breathe a sigh of relief. After months of reporting and forecasting depressing housing news, home sales seem to be taking a turn for the better. According to the Department of Commerce , sales of new single-family homes were up 9.6% in July to 433,000 units from... MoreLink This | Email This | Comments (2) The five-step advantageWith consumers’ discretionary income seriously impacted by a myriad of factors, including adjustable rate mortgage rate resets, unstable home equity and credit card payment increases, many retailers are being forced to adjust their marketing strategies for today’s consumer. According to Discover Financial Services, the Discover U.S. Spending Monitor fell again in July to 83.5... MoreLink This | Email This | Comments (0) How to "WOW" your customersMany consumers continue to be cautious regarding their spending as more jobs are lost and fears of not being able to earn more money plague them. According to the bureau of labor statistics , unemployment inched upward to 9.5% in June- the highest level in nearly 26 years. And, this has consumers reeling with anxiety. Consumer confidence dwindled in June to a reading of 49.3 (1985=100), down... More |
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