As U.S. consumers prepare to hit the road for Labor Day weekend, nearly half (45 percent) of U.S. households are diligently seeking lower gas prices according to a recent Nielsen Company survey.

Lower prices for food and other household items are great for consumers, but for retailers, they don’t always achieve the desired rise in sales as the competition is quick to follow.

By 2015, Nielsen predicts mass supercenters and e-commerce to be the big winners. Industry change will grow faster and more intense in the next five years, requiring advanced, future-focused change management skills among CPG professionals.

2009 was a big year for Private Label. To keep the momentum growing, closing the price gap between branded and store brands by one cent could yield up to $400 million in incremental annual unit sales.

Coupons are hot again in the U.S. Surprising findings reveal who is using them, what they are using them for and how manufacturers and retailers are making it more convenient than ever for consumers to save money.

If we are what we eat, do we also buy like we think? New research shows that more health-aware consumers not only tend to purchase more healthy foods, but also buy on deal and really know their stores.

A consistent pattern of reduced shopping trips continues to be a major element of consumer’s economic coping strategies. In the latest battle for share of wallet, those retailers who satisfy consumers through differentiation will gain more of less.

Find out which generation spends the most per trip, shops the most often, finds the most deals and learn how to reach them. Understanding diverse generational preferences leads to opportunities at the register.

Charting recent consumer activity, data suggests that the start of the holiday shopping season was not as merry as last as shopping trips were off 3.4% when compared with the same 4 week period last year. Many discretionary categories which typically rely on holiday gifting, such as mens and women’s fragrances and ethnic health and beauty aids are in for another tough year.

Knowing consumers’ attitudes toward grocery shopping is critical for retailers to understand how to encourage shoppers to spend more each trip, thereby helping grow their business.