International Business News - Consumer http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif Discover Financial Services said Thursday its consumer spending index hit its highest level so far this year, reflecting consumers' easing pessimism about the economy. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080904/discovers-consumer-spending-index-jumps-in-august.htm Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:07:07 EDT Chiquita Brands International Inc. wants to move beyond its image as a banana grower and into one as a consumer products company. The Cincinnati-based company has started a rewards program with online auctions for customers called Fresh Funds, offering customer rewards through a point system. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080903/chiquita-stepping-up-consumer-products-image.htm Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:55:20 EDT A Goldman Sachs analyst cut her profit estimates for consumer staples companies on Wednesday due to the strengthening of the dollar. Analyst Judy Hong said in a note to investors that the dollar has climbed 8 percent against the Euro and 11 percent against the Yen since July 15 when the dollar hit a low. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080903/ahead-of-the-bell-consumer-staples.htm Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:39:39 EDT British consumer confidence remained at its lowest level in at least four years in August as the country's economic growth ground to a standstill, Nationwide Building Society said Wednesday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080903/uk-consumer-confidence-held-at-low-in-august.htm Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:05:08 EDT Wall Street may be flummoxed and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke may be wringing his hands over the outlook for inflation for the rest of the year, but it turns out it's not all that hard to predict rising prices. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080829/study-consumers-predict-inflation-like-the-pros.htm Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:42:32 EDT Sony Corp. President Ryoji Chubachi warned Thursday that stagflation--slowing economic growth and quickening inflation--in the U.S., Europe and Japan is beginning to undermine consumer demand in Asia. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080828/sonys-chubachi-warns-stagflation-threatens-asia.htm Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:02:49 EDT The Consumer Data Industry Association, which represents credit reporting bureaus, spent $264,000 in the second quarter to lobby on privacy protections and other issues, according to a disclosure report filed July 21. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080827/data-aggregators-2q-lobbying-reached-264-000.htm Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:37:04 EDT Americans became more optimistic in the economy amid declining gas prices in August, marking the biggest jump in two years. The Conference Board, a private research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose to 56.9, up from a revised 51.9 in July. That's the largest gain since August 2006, and is ahead of the 53 expected by economists surveyed by Thomson/IFR. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080826/consumer-outlook-up-more-than-expected-in-august.htm Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:29:37 EDT A preliminary report by The Conference Board on consumer sentiment in August, due out Tuesday, is expected to show that receding gas prices are helping to lift consumers' moods, but don't expect any euphoria. Americans are expected to remain the gloomiest in 16 years. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080825/ahead-of-the-bell-consumer-confidence.htm Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:33:37 EDT The Consumer Electronics Association spent $480,000 in the second quarter to lobby on electronics recycling and other issues, according to a recent disclosure report. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080820/electronics-group-spent-480k-lobbying-in-2q.htm Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:29:20 EDT President Bush on Thursday signed consumer-safety legislation that bans lead from children's toys, imposing the toughest standard in the world. The new law prohibits lead, beyond minute levels, in products for children 12 or younger. Lead paint was a major factor in the recall of 45 million toys and children's items last year, many from China. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080814/bush-signs-bill-banning-lead-from-childrens-toys.htm Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:02:27 EDT The government's main inflation yardstick, due out Thursday, is expected to show that prices increased at a slower pace in July than the previous month, when prices rose at almost the fastest pace in 25 years. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080814/ahead-of-the-bell-consumer-price-index.htm Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:28:10 EDT A deal allowing Best Buy Inc. to sell Apple Inc.'s iPhone will likely help the nation's largest electronics retailer surpass its rivals as they all try to weather a weaker-than-usual holiday shopping season, analysts said Wednesday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080813/iphone-deal-could-boost-best-buy.htm Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:06:08 EDT Even one collapsing bank is one too many. The takeover by federal regulators of IndyMac Bank -- the fifth to fail this year -- was unsettling for savers and investors. And the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has close to 100 other banks on its watch list. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080812/self-help-consumer-indymac-banks-fdic.htm Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:37:45 EDT The Consumer Bankers Association spent $450,000 in the second quarter to lobby on numerous financial and regulatory issues, according to a recent disclosure filing. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080811/consumer-bankers-assn-spent-450k-lobbying-in-2q.htm Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:02:20 EDT Shares of some consumer products makers may continue to fall in trading Friday after an analyst said the sector was losing ground as cost-conscious consumers trade down from brand name to private-label products. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080808/ahead-of-the-bell-consumer-products.htm Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:31:44 EDT Consumers--fortified by the government's rebate checks--boosted their borrowing in June at the fastest pace in seven months. The Federal Reserve reported Thursday that consumer credit increased at a brisk annual rate of 6.7 percent in June. That was up from a 3.8 percent growth rate in May. It marked the biggest increase since November when consumer borrowing grew at a 8.2 percent pace. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080807/consumers-jack-up-borrowing-in-june.htm Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:03:18 EDT Consumers probably borrowed less freely in June as the country's economic hard times made them think twice about splurging. Debt rung up by consumers is expected to increase by $6.4 billion in June from the previous month, according to the consensus estimate of Wall Street economists surveyed by Thomson/IFR. The data will be released by the Federal Reserve at 3 p.m. EDT on Thursday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080807/ahead-of-the-bell-consumer-credit.htm Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:10:05 EDT Myanmar's consumer price index rose nearly 33 percent in the 2007-2008 financial year, according to official statistics seen Wednesday. The increase of 32.93 was higher than that for 2006-2007, when the CPI registered a 26.33 increase, according to the figures from the Central Statistical Organization of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080806/myanmar-cpi-up-33-for-past-year.htm Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:13:40 EDT The Democratic-controlled Congress is working to overcome years of neglect by the Bush administration of agencies intended to safeguard the health of the public, especially children, a leading Democrat said Saturday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080802/democrats-congress-overcoming-gop-neglect.htm Sat, 02 Aug 2008 11:19:18 EDT