The Nielsen Company recently analyzed the shopping habits of four key generations (Greatest Generation, Boomers, Gen X and Millennials) to understand generational differences in purchasing practices and gain insights into opportunities for CPG companies.   Results showed that the Greatest Generation consumers, shaped by the Great Depression and World War II frugality, are the most…

Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN A recent government report showed inflationary pressure coming from higher gasoline prices in January, highlighting the impact of last month’s early surge in prices at the pump. Retail gasoline prices fell from early January highs, and inflation is not a near-term threat. In fact, the Consumer Price…

By Brian Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN Gasoline costs in metropolitan wholesale markets across the U.S. are posting between a nickel and dime declines to start February compared with week prior pricing, as the market continues to slump after financially traded gasoline contracts spiked to a 15-month high in early January. The early year…

In the fourth quarter, the economy soared at a faster pace than expected: 5.7%, marking the fastest pace in more than six years, as businesses made less-aggressive cuts to inventories and stepped up spending, Reuters reported. Economists had expected GDP to rise at a 4.6% pace. While the year closed out with a strong fourth…

Brian Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN Retail gasoline prices across the United States will continue to decline, as the impact of tumbling wholesale costs pull pump prices lower. Since posting a 15-month high in early January, wholesale gasoline costs are down nearly 9%, while retail prices have just inched lower. That lag in the…

The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) is firing back at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene after it recently announced preliminary sodium reduction guidelines for restaurants and food manufacturers.  CCF warns that these new guidelines could cause many of America’s favorite foods to take an unfortunate turn for the bland. “The…

Chicken’s economical price and inherent flexibility gives convenience store retailers a myriad of opportunities for growing their foodservice business without sacrificing quality and value. However, deciding whether your stores’ best interests are better served by a branded or proprietary chicken program requires an understanding of the benefits and drawbacks each model offers, said consultant John…

The economy, the environment and the weather. All three are impacting the sale of bottled water this year. From 1997 until 2007, consumers were thirsty for bottles of clear, refreshing water. Between 2003 and 2008, bottled water sales grew 59% to $5.1 billion, making it one of the fastest-growing drinks on the market. Consumers believed…

Tea Truths The U.S. is the birthplace of iced tea. More than 80% of tea consumed here is still sold as an iced drink. Tea sales in the U.S. are expected to exceed a phenomenal $10 billion in 2010 for both beverage and non-beverage categories, according to Worldteaexpo.com In the U.S., 37% of consumers prefer…

Despite tough economic times, sales of beer and wine remain constant even though many consumers continue to “trade down the box,” according to Dan Roane, category manager of alcoholic beverages for Circle K’s Southeastern stores. “The below premium beer segment is doing much better than it has in years,” Roane said. “We actually are seeing…