STORES Magazine - November 2008 - (Page 82)

INSIDE TRACK Compiled by Anastasia Van Engelen NRFnews & WHO WHAT WHEN Retail Container Traffic Lowest Since ’05 MERCHANTS are carefully managing inventories in response to a slowing economy, which is evident at the nation’s ports. Cargo volume in the United States is expected to decline 6.5 percent in 2008, according to the monthly Port Tracker report released by NRF and Global Insight. The total volume would be the lowest since 2005. “Retailers are being careful to import only as much merchandise as they think they can sell,” says NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy Jonathan Gold. Port Tracker evaluates inbound container volume, the availability of trucks and railroad cars to move cargo out of the ports, labor conditions and other factors that affect cargo movement and congestion. Subscription information is available at www.nrf.com/porttracker; the report is free to NRF retail members. For more information, contact Gold at (202) 626-8193 or goldj@nrf.com. says NCCR president Jack Whipple. “The LEAN Act is a better approach than other alternatives and would create a universal national standard for nutritional disclosure, which is strongly needed.” The bill would require restaurants with 20 or more locations to disclose calories for each menu item so consumers can consider that information when ordering their meals. Calories could be posted directly on the menu or menu board or in a variety of alternative ways, including menu inserts or signage. Grocery stores that serve prepared meals would also be covered, and information would be provided for 10 categories of nutrition data beyond calories. NCCR is a member of the Coalition for Responsible Nutritional Information, which was formed to ensure that consumers across the country will have access to detailed nutrition information when they dine out. For more information, contact NCCR vice president Scott Vinson at (202) 661-3059 or vinsons@nrf.com. Price Will Drive Holiday Shoppers NRF’S 2008 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey finds that U.S. consumers plan to spend an average of $832.36 on holiday-related shopping, an increase of 1.9 percent from 2007. This represents the smallest increase in planned consumer spending since the survey began in 2002. The BIGresearch survey was conducted after Congress passed the economic rescue package. While shoppers visit stores for many reasons, the majority of consumers plan to make buying decisions based on price. This year, 52.6 percent of shoppers cited either sales/promotions (40 percent) or everyday low prices (12.6 percent) as the most important factor. Other consumers rated selection (21.5 percent) and merchandise quality (13.4%) as the primary factor. Though most consumers plan to stick to a budget this holiday season, many are padding it with a little something extra. Knowing that the holidays often abound with good deals, more than half (56.6 percent) of shoppers are planning to make additional non-gift purchases for themselves or their families. NCCR Backs Nutrition Labeling Uniformity Bill THE National Council of Chain Restaurants, a division of NRF, welcomed the introduction of legislation that would establish a uniform national standard for nutrition labeling in restaurants. The Labeling, Education and Nutrition (LEAN) Act, introduced in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, would require restaurants to provide comprehensive nutrition data to customers and would set uniform national standards for nutrition labeling. “This bill is a good starting point to give consumers information they want and need to make informed decisions,” 82 STORES / NOVEMBER 2008 WWW.STORES.ORG http://www.nrf.com/porttracker http://WWW.STORES.ORG

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of STORES Magazine - November 2008

STORES Magazine - November 2008 Contents Executive Editor's Page President's Page Every Cup Counts What Shoppers Think Less Park Time, More Shop Time 10 Things You May Have Missed Numbers Worth Counting Full Price/Markdown Retail People Retail Held Captive First Look Concept2Watch Marketing Technology Custom Software PCI Compliance Data Security Arts Update Newsbeat LP Issues: Q&A Cover Story Surveillance Systems Online Fraud Industry Perspective LOEB Retail Letter Point of View NRF News Retail Crossword Retail Industry Calendar Last Laugh

STORES Magazine - November 2008

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