Consumerism News

April 13, 2020

Top Headlines

Latest Headlines

updated 12:26am EDT

New Measure for Excessive Buying Problems

Mar. 4, 2020 Excessive or uncontrolled buying or shopping is a highly prevalent, disabling and growing problem, yet measuring the extent and effects of this significant psychological problem and social issue ... read more

Short-Lived 'Soda' Tax Worked

Feb. 25, 2020 A study of beverage sales in Cook County, Illinois, shows that for four months in 2017 -- when the county implemented a penny-per-ounce tax on both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened drinks ... read more

A Little Good Is Good Enough -- Excuses and 'Indulgence Effects' in Consumption

Feb. 21, 2020 Ecofriendly materials, produced under good work conditions -- convincing arguments for most of us. But how do consumers really weigh compliance with ... read more

Increasing Opportunities for Sustainable Behavior

Jan. 24, 2020 To mitigate climate change and safeguard ecosystems, we need to make drastic changes in our consumption and transport behaviors. A new study shows how even minor changes to available infrastructure ... read more

Buying Less Is Better Than Buying 'Green' -- For the Planet and Your Happiness

Oct. 8, 2019 A new study found that people who consume less are happier than those who engage in other pro-environmental consumer behaviors, like buying ... read more

Labels of US Probiotic Products Lacking

June 4, 2019 When it comes to buying probiotics, most product labels do not give consumers enough information to make an informed decision, according to a research ... read more

Economists Find Net Benefit in Soda Tax

May 20, 2019 A team of economists has concluded that soda taxes serve as a 'net good,' an assessment based on an analysis of health benefits and consumer ... read more

The Impact of the Sugar Tax in Chile: A Bittersweet Success?

July 3, 2018 A new sugar tax introduced on soft drinks in Chile has been effective in reducing consumption of sugary drinks, new research carried out in the country has revealed. However, the international ... read more

New Report Details Experiences of Graduates With Student Loan Debt During the Great Recession

May 2, 2018 Most non-borrowers (81 percent) reported that their undergraduate education was worth the cost, compared with 69 percent of graduates who took out ... read more

Graphic Anti-Smoking Posters May Encourage Some Teens to Begin Smoking Cigarettes

Dec. 13, 2017 One anti-smoking strategy promoted by tobacco opponents is the display of graphic posters depicting the consequences of tobacco-caused diseases. ... read more

Earlier Headlines

Interactive Product Labels Require New Regulations, Study Warns

Mar. 26, 2020 Artificial intelligence will be increasingly used on labels on food and other products in the future to make them interactive, and regulations should be reformed now so they take account of new ... read more

Spending on Experiences Versus Possessions Advances More Immediate Happiness

Mar. 9, 2020 Consumers are happier when they spend their money on experiential purchases versus material ones, according to new ... read more

Highlighting Product Greenness May Put Consumers Off Buying

Feb. 28, 2020 New research suggests that companies looking to promote their latest environmentally friendly product should downplay its green credentials if they want consumers to buy it. By highlighting green ... read more

Physicians Propose Quality Measures to Improve Medical Billing

Feb. 5, 2020 If you're concerned about rising health care costs and overwhelming medical bills, you're not ... read more

'Value Instantiation' Key to Luxury Brands' and Social Responsibility

Jan. 13, 2020 Although luxury brands and social responsibility seem fundamentally inconsistent with each other, the two entities can coexist in the mind of the consumer, provided the brand can find someone -- ... read more

New Health Insurance Insights

Dec. 17, 2019 Economists analyze how patients and health care providers value ... read more

Cultural Variables Influence Consumer Demand for Private-Label Brands

Dec. 16, 2019 Consumer attitudes toward private-label store brands might be driven more by social variables than price, says new ... read more

Waiting Area Entertainment and Co-Opetition Between Brick-and-Mortar Stores Boosts Profit

Dec. 13, 2019 With the popularity of online shopping, it's no secret brick-and-mortar stores are fighting to stay relevant. Waiting area entertainment is one way they are standing out, because no one likes to ... read more

Non-GM Produce Earns 'Halo Effect' Under New Labeling Laws

Oct. 31, 2019 Consumers were more willing to buy unlabeled produce after being shown food tagged as ''genetically modified'' in a new study that comes two months before a new federal law, ... read more

Consumers Trust Influencers Less When There Is a Variety of Choices for a Product

Oct. 16, 2019 Consumers have been relying on opinion leader recommendations to make choices about product quality and purchases for a long time. It is even more prominent now with the prevalence of influencers on ... read more

How to Make Carbon Pricing Palatable to Air Travelers

Oct. 3, 2019 Travellers are willing to pay a little more for flights if they know the extra money will be used to address carbon emissions, a new study has ... read more

Promotional Games at Retail Stores Increase Consumer Spending

Oct. 3, 2019 Surprisingly, even when the discount won from a promotional game is smaller than a traditional discount -- say only 10% versus 20% -- researchers still saw the same ... read more

Going Green? Not So Easy for Mainstream Brands

Aug. 1, 2019 Recent research shows that when mainstream brands advertise using visual cues suggesting the product is environmentally friendly or 'green' consumers may actually evaluate the product as ... read more

Texas' Strategic Goal for Students' Debt Burden Shows Potential Promise and Pitfalls

July 22, 2019 College students in Texas who graduated from public universities with a bachelor's degree had, on average, student loan debts that equaled 74% of what they earned in their first-year wages, ... read more

Consumers View Nutrition and Health Claims Differently Than Regulators

Mar. 28, 2019 Consumers may not consciously differentiate nutrition and health claims on foods in the way that regulatory experts do, new research ... read more

Debt Relief Improves Psychological and Cognitive Function, Enabling Better Decision-Making

Mar. 26, 2019 A new study demonstrates that reducing the number of debt accounts lowers the mental burden of the poor, thereby improving psychological and cognitive performance. This enables better ... read more

Sensory Tests Suggest 'Liking' Wines Made With Native Grapes a Learned Response

Mar. 6, 2019 Consumer preference or aversion to wines made from native grapes -- such as Concord, Niagara and Catawba, which are grown in North America -- may depend on early exposure to the fruits' sweet, ... read more

Eating Healthy on a Limited Budget Is Possible, Researchers Find

Mar. 6, 2019 A new study found that with menu planning and access to stores selling items in bulk, the average daily cost for serving healthy meals to a family of four was $25 in 2010 dollars. This cost was ... read more

Views of Ideal Female Appearance in China Are Changing

Nov. 28, 2018 A researcher found that young women in China, living in a rapidly changing society with more personal independence, disposable income and exposure to Western media than ever before, are also altering ... read more

A World Without Brick-and-Mortar Stores? Even Avid Online Shoppers Say, 'No, Thanks'

Nov. 14, 2018 The majority of consumers, even those who prefer online shopping, think the extinction of brick-and-mortar stores would be bad for society, according to a new study that explores consumers' ... read more

Thursday, March 26, 2020