https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. New high-tech devices will get US consumers to open their wallets for the upcoming holiday season, driving retail spending higher, a survey showed Tuesday. https://phys.org/news/2012-10-tech-holiday-survey.html Business Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:09:35 EDT news269626166 Americans typically spend $70 billion more in December than in the average of November and January (the months around December). In a recent National Science Foundation-sponsored interview, Joel Waldfogel, the Carlson School's Frederick R. Kappel Professor of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota uses that increase to measure the amount of holiday gift-giving. This level of spending is lower than in other countries. "We're about the 20th largest in terms of countries in the world," said Waldfogel, referencing how much U.S. December spending increases. https://phys.org/news/2011-12-states-20th-holiday.html Economics & Business Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:40:01 EST news243848022 You need to move out of your apartment. Do you call in your friends and family to haul boxes and furniture or contact a moving company? A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research shows that sometimes the emotions connected with asking for favors can actually drive people to the market. https://phys.org/news/2009-06-dark-side-gifts-indebted-people.html Social Sciences Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:57:06 EDT news164302859