research

U.S. EPA, L’Oréal Partner to Screen Chemicals

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The United States Environmental Protection Agency and cosmetic company L’Oréal are collaborating to explore whether the EPA’s chemical toxicity forecaster—ToxCast—can be used in systemic toxicity tests. EPA is using ToxCast to screen chemicals to understand their potential impact on processes in the human body that lead to adverse health effects.

WSL/Strategic Retail Study: More Than 1 in 2 Americans Can Barely Afford Basics

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Fifty-two percent of Americans are struggling to afford necessities—and for many even that is a stretch, according to WSL/Strategic Retail in its “How America Shops MegaTrends" report, "Moving On 2012.”

Other significant findings by WSL/Strategic Retail, which is a leading authority on shopper behavior and retail trends, in its newest report that was released on March 1:

Mobile-Centric Merchandising Emerges

Submitted by manyeshab on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 12:06
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Have you picked up your smartphone to check the availability, deals and prices of products available in your store, yet sold elsewhere? Well, it’s likely that many of your customers have, and even more are expected to in the near future, according to two recent studies.

Here are some stats to help put technology-integrative shopping in perspective for you.

Research from Perception Research Services International, which specializes in shopper research, reveals that:
• 83% of smartphone owners use their devices while shopping

Americans To Save Their Tax Refunds

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More Americans intend to save—rather than spend—their federal tax refunds this year, according to the National Retail Federation’s “Tax Returns Consumer Survey” conducted by consumer-intelligence firm BIGinsight.

Two-thirds of taxpayers are expecting a refund this year—the exact same as last year. Nearly 44% of them are expected to stash away some of their refund in savings—the most in the survey’s nine-year history (and up 2% from last year).

Retail Sales Get a Boost in January

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January retail-industry sales—excluding automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants—increased 0.9% from December and 4% over last year, according to the National Retail Federation.

Increased Valentine’s Day Spending Expected

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Total Valentine’s Day spending is expected to reach $17.6 billion, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2012 Valentine’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions survey conducted by consumer-intelligence provider BIGinsight.

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