US consumers attitude to change

Everyone is looking to save by altering where they shop, how they shop and the brands they buy – according to AC Nielsen US.

Since March 2007, according to the
Bueau of Labor Statistics, the price of eggs has jumped 35 percent. A
gallon of milk is up 23 percent. A loaf of white bread has climbed 16
percent. And a pound of ground chuck is up 8 percent. Overall, U.S.
food prices in 2008 are expected to rise 4 to 5 percent, about double
the increases of recent years. And while the total rise is far less
drastic than elsewhere around the world, the sharp hike for staples
means everyone is feeling the pinch.
The crunch for American shoppers pales
compared with the challenges faced by those in the developing world.
Americans spend just 9.9 percent of household income on food,
according to the U.S. Agriculture Department.  Compare that with
poor countries such as Ethiopia and Bangladesh, where it's not
uncommon for families to spend 70 percent. Diets also are more varied
here: If the price of milk or flour jumps, shoppers can opt for other
items.