Wednesday, 7 Oct 2009 | Source: The Associated Press
Making their own store-brand products gives companies better control over costs and production decisions, a key advantage as consumers' recession-driven frugality eats into sales.
Stocks skidded Tuesday after a report showed consumer confidence is waning amid worries about the job market. It was a struggle all morning as investors juggled another batch of disappointing earnings results against an encouraging report on the housing market.
As far as stock prices go, supermarkets are still feeling the recession pain — especially in the US. But for some of them, the crisis has been a unique opportunity to woo customers into a relationship that they hope will become permanent.
Supermarket operator Supervalu warned Wednesday that its first-quarter profit will be substantially below analysts' expectations, as consumers tighten spending in the recession.
With stocks slowing climbing back up, should investors start putting cash to work again or should they continue to sit back and wait for a pullback? Portfolio managers Robert Loest of Integrity, Growth & Income and Bob Auer of Auer Growth Fund shared their opposing market outlooks... Read More