From cbc.ca:

New research suggests that if consumers want to avoid making impulse purchases, they should refrain from handling goods while shopping, because merely touching an object increases feelings of ownership.

The research, published this week in the Journal of Consumer Research, also found that touching an object, if the experience is pleasant or even neutral, increases how much money consumers would be willing to pay.

Joann Peck, an assistant marketing professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business, said in an interview that the research has implications for consumers, retailers and advertisers.

"Be very careful when you are shopping: if you don’t want to buy, don’t touch," she said.

"Touch increases your feelings of ownership and it also increases the amount you are willing to pay. I would caution people not to touch when shopping."

From wsbt.com:

“When it comes to money, many moms know how to stretch a buck. WSBT talked to those experts to find out how they save on kids clothes, toys and a whole lot more.

Joanna Ladson says with three kids and one income she has to be a serious saver.”

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From lifesitenews.com:

“The parliament of the predominantly Catholic country of Croatia is urging its citizens to reclaim Sunday as a day for celebrating the Eucharist, for family, and for rest.

The Croatian parliament passed a law yesterday requiring most businesses to close on Sundays. The law does, however, allow Sunday shopping during the summer tourist season and Christmas holidays.

The new law also allows stores in hospitals as well as those in gas, bus and train stations to open on Sundays year-round. Bakeries, newsstands and flower shops are also exempt from the ban.”

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From timesfreepress.com:

“It’s not Christmas time or the day after Thanksgiving, but the crowds at Hamilton Place mall Sunday were celebrating the event frugal shoppers have been waiting for all summer: the tax-free holiday.
And with parking lots packed and stores selling out of popular items, the holiday gave store managers a lot to celebrate, too.”

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From news.yahoo.com:

“Consumer spending, after adjusting for inflation, fell in June as shoppers were hit with the biggest increase in prices in nearly three decades.

The Commerce Department reported Monday that consumer spending dipped by 0.2 percent in June, after removing the effects of higher prices, the poorest showing since a similar drop in February. The higher prices reflected a big surge in gasoline costs and helped to drive an inflation gauge tied to consumer spending up by 0.8 percent in June, the biggest increase since a 1 percent rise in February 1981.”

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From cbc.ca:

"Albertans spent more money on average in 2006 than any one else in the country, reflecting that province’s strong resource economy, Statistics Canada said Tuesday."

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