Research Topic

WASHINGTON - When it comes to value, American consumers believe food offers the biggest bang for their buck, according to a new survey conducted by the polling company for the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA).

LONDON - J Sainsbury, the UK's second largest supermarket operator, today claimed to be taking share from its rival Tesco for the first time in six years, as it announced like-for-like sales up by 6.4 percent for the third quarter, The Financial Times reports.

WASHINGTON - Plantings of genetically engineered crops across the globe increased nearly 20 percent last year despite resistance of consumers in Europe and elsewhere, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, The Associated Press reports.

MIAMI - Lower interest rates, a strong Christmas and improving credit terms will allow mass merchandisers to continue to invest heavily in supply chain hardware and software systems and POS systems in the next 6-12 months, according to a new report from IHL Consulting Report entitled "IT and North American Mass Merchandisers."

COLUMBUS - Online holiday shopping activity grew in 2001, according to preliminary results from consulting and market research firm Retail Forward's most recent survey of Internet users.

WASHINGTON - The nation's unemployment rate reached 5.8 percent in December, highest in more than six years, The Associated Press reports. Businesses cut 124,000 jobs, 77,000 of which were retail.

NEW YORK - Poor neighborhoods have fewer supermarkets and food service offerings than wealthier areas, according to a study by the US Environmental Protection Agency that was recently published in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Reuters reports.

WASHINGTON - More women than men now shop online, according to a report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project released Tuesday, Reuters reports.