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Consumer Behavior

All articles tagged with #consumer behavior

Premium gas prices rise: higher octane, bigger profits, and marketing myths
business6 days ago

Premium gas prices rise: higher octane, bigger profits, and marketing myths

Premium gasoline now costs roughly $1 more per gallon than regular in many areas, with CNN noting the gap has widened from about 20 cents over decades to near $1 today, while demand climbs as more new cars require or recommend higher-octane fuel. The rise is partly due to higher refining costs and ethanol additives, which pump up wholesale-to-retail margins for stations. Cars that don’t need premium typically see no performance benefit from higher octane, according to AAA and industry analysts, yet marketing and perceptions of “better performance” keep shoppers paying the premium. Premium gas accounted for about 13% of sales last year, and the price spike persists even as drivers continue to fill up, illustrating a blend of cost, demand, and marketing factors behind the price puzzle.

via CNN|
#business#consumer-behavior#gas-prices
Costco Superfans: Tattoos, Community, and the New Brand Fandom
business13 days ago

Costco Superfans: Tattoos, Community, and the New Brand Fandom

The piece surveys the surge in brand fandom, using Costco as a prime example where devoted shoppers—like Max Ellinger, who has a Kirkland Signature tattoo, and others who craft life milestones around Costco—treat the retailer as a lifestyle and community. Experts say such devotion signals identity and belonging in a polarized era, with fans forming online groups, hosting celebrations in stores, and even driving broader trends in how people express loyalty to retailers beyond traditional advertising.

via USA Today|
#branding#business#consumer-behavior
MAHA SNAP Rules Push Brands to Reformulate as Benefits Shrink
business21 days ago

MAHA SNAP Rules Push Brands to Reformulate as Benefits Shrink

SNAP waivers in 23 states restricting purchases for about one-third of recipients could trim food-and-beverage sales by up to $830 million this year as shoppers switch to allowed items or cut back; major brands (Hershey, Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Nestle, General Mills) are measuring shopper response and accelerating reformulations to remove artificial dyes amid MAHA’s push to curb synthetic colors and SNAP purchases; Iowa has codified MAHA provisions, signaling a broader shift that could tighten access to sugar-sweetened beverages and candy, even as some executives expect a muted impact and retailers remain exposed to SNAP spending shifts.

via CNBC|
#artificial-dyes#business#consumer-behavior
Stuck in the Drawer: The surprising reasons we keep old gadgets and how to recycle them
environment-energy22 days ago

Stuck in the Drawer: The surprising reasons we keep old gadgets and how to recycle them

A NSF-backed study of 4,000 Americans finds that the most common fate for finished devices is storage in a drawer (about 39%), not recycling or resale; data-security fears and not knowing where to recycle drive hoarding. The research shows recycling and reselling are feasible options, emphasizes wiping data and removing accounts before disposal, and highlights information nudges to help people give old electronics a second life.

via The Conversation|
#consumer-behavior#data-security#e-waste
GLP-1 Drugs Trigger a Retail Shakeup in How Americans Shop
business2 months ago

GLP-1 Drugs Trigger a Retail Shakeup in How Americans Shop

GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are reshaping shopping habits: users move from middle-aisle snacks to the grocery store perimeter (produce, meats, dairy), reallocate spending toward health, protein, and wellness products, and even invest more in apparel, while fast-food dining declines and product reformulation accelerates as adoption grows and affordability improves.

via USA Today|
#business#consumer-behavior#glp-1
Gas-price surge nudges U.S. buyers toward used EVs
business2 months ago

Gas-price surge nudges U.S. buyers toward used EVs

With gas averaging about $4.43 a gallon, roughly 15% of Americans say they’re considering an EV, and analysts note the most accessible option for many is the used EV market amid high new-EV prices, tight inventories, and fading federal incentives. Deals persist (e.g., Tesla Model Y 0% APR; Lucid 0.99% for 60 months), but new-EV supply is down about 80,000 units versus last year. Used EVs can be 40–60% cheaper than new, and batteries are often backed by 8-year/100,000-mile warranties, though charging infrastructure and port compatibility (NACS) remain concerns. Experts say price pressure may nudge adoption, but a surge isn’t guaranteed and lifestyle needs still drive decisions.

via ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos|
#auto-industry#business#consumer-behavior
Frictionless Spending: How Cards and BNPL Trap Shoppers in Debt
economy3 months ago

Frictionless Spending: How Cards and BNPL Trap Shoppers in Debt

Credit cards, rewards, BNPL, and digital wallets have made spending frictionless, turning impulse buys into debt traps. The piece highlights personal stories and expert analysis showing how “play money” rewards and installment plans blur true costs, with BNPL usage rising to 15% in 2025 and credit-card balances at a record $1.28 trillion. While some use BNPL for necessities, the system often leads to spiraling debt, higher interest and fees, and long-term consequences like wage garnishment or bankruptcies, all amid ongoing inflation and uncertainty.

via Business Insider|
#bnpl#consumer-behavior#credit-cards
Taste and temperament: wine choices reveal personality, study finds
science4 months ago

Taste and temperament: wine choices reveal personality, study finds

A study analyzing nearly 10,000 online wine reviews with AI linked personality traits to preferred wine alcohol levels. People high in openness and agreeableness tend to favor higher-alcohol wines (e.g., Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Port, Sherry), while those higher in extraversion and neuroticism lean toward lower-alcohol options (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Prosecco). Conscientiousness showed no clear link. The researchers say results could inform personalized wine recommendations and psychographic marketing.

via Daily Mail|
#alcohol-content#consumer-behavior#personality
Solo Dining Goes Mainstream as Menus Pivot for One
business5 months ago

Solo Dining Goes Mainstream as Menus Pivot for One

Solo dining is accelerating: solo orders account for 47% of fast-food visits (up from 31% in 2021), one-person reservations at full-service restaurants rose 22% in Q3 2025, and about 70% of solo diners skip discounts. Yum Brands notes menus are being redesigned for individuals, with personal-size pizzas appealing to Gen Z and millennials, signaling a shift toward personalization even as sharing remains common and solo bookings still represent a minority overall. The trend points to more customization in 2026.

via Axios|
#business#consumer-behavior#fast-food