Wednesday, September 15, 2010

SHOPPING -- AND COUPON USE -- ON THE RISE

The slow economic recovery doesn't seem to be stopping some women from shopping. A new "ShopSmart" magazine survey shows women are making more purchases now than they were at the beginning of the year. Of the more than one-thousand women taking part in the poll, 52-percent note they've bought books, music, or DVDs in the past 30 days, which is up two-percent from January; 45-percent have purchased new shoes, which is up eleven-percent; and 41-percent have picked up new undergarments, which is an increase of nine-percent. There's also been a seven-percent rise in the number of women buying fresh flowers, and a five-percent boost in home accents and purse purchases. An additional four-percent of women have been buying makeup lately. But the poll also shows that women are being cost conscious. Nearly two-thirds of the shoppers note they have used coupons in making their recent purchases.