Research Topic

NEW YORK - In the first few weeks of 2002, health- and comfort-related items, such as diet products, exercise equipment and board games, experienced a surge in sales at Wal-Mart, Reuters reports.

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is proposing $131 million in new spending next year on programs to improve food safety and prevent agricultural diseases, The Associated Press reports.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - New findings from ACNielsen U.S.'s Consumer Pre-View service shows that consumers are planning to cut back on restaurant dining and are more likely to buy American-made grocery products.

NEW YORK - Toys R Us Inc. said on Monday it is testing out kiosks at Ahold-owned stores in the United States in part to compete with Wal-Mart, whose toy sales now exceed those of Toys R Us, Reuters reports.

SOMERS, N.Y. - Pepsi Bottling Group Inc.'s fourth-quarter net income more than tripled, boosted by sales of products like Mountain Dew Code Red and Aquafina bottled water, Reuters reports.

NEW YORK - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is on pace to record more than $220 billion in revenue for the 2001 fiscal year, which would make it the world's largest company according to Fortune magazine's annual list, The Associated Press reports.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing that the meat inspection process is changed voluntarily, although congressional investigators say there's no proof the new system is as safe as the traditional program, The Associated Press reports.

NEW YORK - U.S. consumers felt their most upbeat in a year in January, the University of Michigan's index of consumer sentiment showed today.