The holiday shopping season is approaching and according to a new shopping survey, 45 percent of consumers expect to spend less money during this holiday season than they did last year during 2010. Forty-nine percent say they'll spend the same amount as they did last year. Just seven percent plan to … [Read more...]
Mortgage Rates Remain Low
September 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Fixed-rate mortgages are holding steady among European debt market concerns, mixed housing data and a sputtering economy. Freddie Mac just released results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey and found that the 30-year fixed rate remain unchanged at 4.09 percent. The 15-year rate dropped to 3.29 percent … [Read more...]
Survey: Dogs Eating Up Their Share of the Household Budget
September 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A new survey in honor of National Dog Week finds that while consumers are cutting many things out of their budgets, they're not forgetting about Fido. A survey from CouponCabin.com found that nearly seven in ten adult American dog owners are not letting economic ups and downs effect their dog care spending. … [Read more...]
Celebrate National Coupon Month in September
August 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
September is National Coupon Month and Valpak is celebrating by sharing tips and encouraging Americans to ramp up their coupon use. According to reports, 40 percent of consumers search for coupons and deals before they leave the house. In 2011 coupon redemption has increased by 2.9 percent compared to … [Read more...]
Study Shows Decline in Small Business Bankruptcy Filings
August 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A new study from Equifax shows that small business bankruptcies have declined in 2011 compared to 2010 by more than 15 percent. But this isn't all good news for the nations more than 24 million small businesses. Bankruptcies among small businesses are still 30.03 percent higher than they were before … [Read more...]
Michigan Study Shows Income Dropped But Spending Didn’t
May 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A new study shows Michigan residents may be poorer, but they're not letting that impact their spending. A new Michigan State University study on household financial conditions surveyed data and found that 67 percent of Michigan residents have budgets, but four out of five don't adjust those budgets when … [Read more...]
Study: Farmers Markets Often Cheaper Than the Grocery Store
May 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Buzz words like locally-grown and organic can seem like code for "more expensive." But a new study from the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont is proving that may not be true. Last summer a team of five interns collected price information at various farmers' markets, co-ops and grocery … [Read more...]